Otamendi Announces International Retirement

Veteran Argentine defender Nicolás Otamendi announced his retirement from international duty with the national team in a farewell statement on his official Instagram account, after having played 139 matches, including winning the World Cup and Copa América.

Otamendi said: "Today it's my turn to write the hardest words of my entire career. Since I was a child, my dream has been to wear the Argentina national team jersey."

He added: "It has been the greatest privilege that football has given me. I defended this shirt with my soul, with pride, and with the responsibility that comes from knowing what it means to millions of Argentinians."

He concluded: "Fate decided that my last match would be the World Cup final. It wasn't the result we wanted, but I leave with my head held high, because this group fought until the last second."

He continued: "I bid farewell feeling assured that I gave everything I had. I never held back a single drop of my effort, I never lost my faith, and I never stopped considering wearing this shirt the greatest honor of my life."

He added: "Thank you to the Argentine fans. Thank you for your unconditional love, for every flag, every chant, and for standing by us in the beautiful times, and most importantly, in the toughest moments. You made us feel, every time the national anthem was played, that we are not eleven players, but millions of people defending the same dream."

The player stated: "Thank you to my family. You were my refuge in every fall, my strength in every challenge. You endured the distances, the absence, the tears, and the frustrations. I never walked this path alone; we took it together step by step. And to those who continue to wear this shirt today, I say from the heart: never stop believing. There will be blows that seem impossible to overcome, but this shirt always rewards those who defend it with humility, sacrifice, and love."

He continued: "Lift your heads high, keep fighting, and do not let a single defeat steal your hope. I am certain that the next chapter of our history will be in your hands."

Today, I bid farewell to the Argentina national team, but I do so with great pride because I represented my country. Titles remain in the pages of history, but the love for these colors lasts a lifetime. Thank you, Argentina, thank you for making my dream of becoming a world champion come true and for allowing me to wear the most beautiful shirt in the world. Goodbye, Argentina national team.