Spain’s 2010 World Cup winner Sergio Ramos says he is retiring from international football with a “heavy heart” after being told he will not be hired by new boss Luis de la Fuente.
The 36-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender is Spain’s all-time capped player with 180 appearances.
He has not played for Spain since March 2021 and was left out of former coach Luis Enrique’s World Cup squad.
“The time has come,” Ramos posted on social media Thursday.
“It’s time to say goodbye to our beloved and exciting national team.
“It’s the end of a road that I hoped would stretch further and end with a better taste in my mouth, equal to all the success we’ve had with La Roja.”
Ramos said he reached the decision after speaking on the telephone with de la Fuente, who took over from Enrique after Spain’s World Cup exit at the hands of Morocco in the last 16.
Ramos said, “This morning I received a call from the current coach who told me that he does not trust me and will not, regardless of the level I can show or my playing career. How can I continue,” Ramos said.
Winner of the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back European champions with Spain, Ramos made his international debut in 2005 at the age of 18.
However, he has not played for his nation since coming on as a late substitute in a 3-1 win over Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier two years ago.
“I think my path deserved to end because of my personal decision or if my performance was not at the level that our national team deserved, but not because of age or other reasons,” he said.
“Being young or less young is not a virtue or a defect, it is only a temporary trait not necessarily related to performance or ability.
“I admire and envy [Luka] Modric, [Lionel] Messi, Pepe… the essence, tradition, values, meritocracy and justice in football.
“Unfortunately, that won’t happen to me because football isn’t always fair and football is never just about football.”
