At the age of 38, Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi announced his retirement from international football, ending an 17-year stint with the national team.
Otamendi's last outing for Argentina was when he came off the bench against Spain in extra time of the World Cup final (1-0 loss) on Sunday.
The centre-back showed his emotions in an emotional Instagram message and posted that it has been the biggest honour in his football journey to play for his country.
There are some of the hardest words in my career to write today,” Otamendi wrote.
I left the Argentina national team behind, but I am very proud to be an Argentina player.
Titles will pass and the love of these colours will endure a lifetime.
Decorated international career
In 2009, Otamendi made his senior Argentina debut and clocked up 139 appearances for the land of the long-suffering diminutive, with 8 goals.
He played four World Cups and was among the most successful teams of Argentina's history.
The defender has also been a World Cup 2022 favorite to the home side and has appeared in Copa America 2021 and 2024.
Wearing the national team shirt had been an ideal childhood dream for Otamendi and still stands as the biggest honour in his career, he said.
Ever since his days in his youth, he has been dreaming of wearing the Argentina national team jersey, he claimed.
It was mine to defend, with pride, with the knowledge of my responsibilities knowing its meaning for millions of Argentines.”
In the last appearance, the loss was suffered.
Having come out from World Cup finals defeat was hard on Otamendi but he was pleased with the performance of the squad, he admitted.
My last game would be a World Cup Final,” he wrote, “for the rest of my life I will never forget this moment.”
This wasn't the outcome we'd have preferred, but I'm walking out with my head held high, knowing that this team did their best up to the very last second.
The defender, who is a member of the senior elite national team squad, also expressed gratitude to those who supported him and stated that he would depart international football leaving no regrets of having done the best job for his country.
I never bit back one pound of effort and I never doubted, and I never doubted that this shirt was the highest honour that I could simply ever have in my life,” he said.
Thank you Argentina, Ed, thanks for giving me the opportunity to finally realize my dream of becoming a world champion.”
Otamendi joins River Plate
Recently transferred from Europe, Otamendi was added to River Plate's ranks.
He has played for Porto, Valencia, Manchester City and Benfica and enjoyed a number of great victories abroad.
Although Argentina lost the World Cup final, Otamendi feels the national team is headed up a good path now.
He pushed his players who are still in the team to keep the faith and not lose their confidence due to the last loss.
Otamendi wrote that winners cherish defeat and strive to overcome it with "hands up and hearts high" and saying "fight and don't let a defeat deceive you".
I believe in you, Brian, I believe that tomorrow is yours.
