Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 17-year career that included FIFA World Cup glory and two Copa America triumphs.

The 38-year-old centre-back made 139 appearances for Argentina, cementing his place as one of the nation’s most decorated defenders. His final outing came in this year’s World Cup final in the United States, where the reigning champions suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain.

“Today I have to write the most difficult words of my career,” Otamendi wrote in an emotional post on Instagram.

“As fate would have it, my last match was a World Cup final. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I’m leaving with my head held high, knowing that this team gave everything until the very last second.

“Thank you, Argentina, for allowing me to fulfil the dream of becoming a world champion.”

Otamendi recently returned to his homeland after completing a successful 16-year career in Europe, joining Argentine powerhouse River Plate following spells with Porto, Valencia, Manchester City, and Benfica.

Over the course of his international career, Otamendi represented Argentina at four FIFA World Cups, playing a key role in one of the most successful eras in the nation’s football history, highlighted by the 2022 FIFA World Cup title and back-to-back Copa America victories.