Veteran centre-back Nicolás Otamendi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Thursday, four days after the Albiceleste's 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
The 38-year-old, who recently announced he had signed for domestic giants River Plate, confirmed his decision in a video and an open letter posted on social media, describing representing Argentina as "the greatest privilege football has given me."
"I dreamed as a boy of wearing the Argentina shirt and I defended it with all my heart," he wrote. "I leave with the peace of mind of knowing I gave everything. I never held anything back, I never stopped believing and I never stopped wearing this shirt with the greatest pride of my life."
Despite ending his international career with the disappointment of defeat in the World Cup final, Otamendi said he left "with my head held high" because the team had "fought until the very last second."
He also thanked Argentina's supporters for their "unconditional love," saying their backing made the players feel as though "millions were defending the same dream," rather than just the 11 men on the pitch.
Addressing the next generation of international stars, he urged them to "never stop believing," adding: "Don't let one defeat take away your hope."
Otamendi made his Argentina debut in 2009 after receiving his first call-up from Diego Maradona and went on to earn 139 caps.
He played at four World Cups – South Africa 2010, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and North America 2026 – and was a key member of Lionel Scaloni's side that won the World Cup in Qatar, lifted the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and defeated Italy in the 2022 Finalissima.
Otamendi had already revealed in 2025 that the 2026 World Cup in North America, which concluded last Sunday with Argentina finishing runners-up, would be his final tournament with the national team.
On Thursday, he joined River Plate for training in Buenos Aires. A lifelong fan of the club, the former Vélez Sarsfield defender returns to Argentina after more than 15 years in Europe, where he played for Porto, Valencia, Manchester City and Benfica, as well as a brief spell with Brazil's Atlético Mineiro in 2014.
– TIMES/AFP
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