Ramos retires from the Spanish National Team

Sergio Ramos has announced his retirement from international football

Sergio Ramos has announced his retirement from international football with a "heavy heart". This came after he was informed that he did not have a place in the Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente's future plans for the team. 

Ramos will remain as a defender at Paris Saint-Germain until this summer, at least when his contract expires. Ramos has not been able to shine at PSG due to injury. However, this has had no adverse effect on the club's odds on winning Ligue 1.

The 36-year-old Ramos did not take the news well and reacted with a lengthy statement on social media in which he claimed, among other things, that the decision was a result of ageism and that "football isn't always fair". 

“The time has come,” he wrote. “Time for me to say goodbye to the Spain national team. To La Roja.

"This morning, I received a call from the current head coach who informed me that I am not and will not be part of his plans, regardless of how I perform or what I do in my career."
“With a heavy heart, it’s the end of a road that I hoped would stretch out further and which would end with a better taste in my mouth, on a par with all the success we achieved with La Roja.”

“I honestly believe that this journey deserved to end at my own choosing or because my performances were not at a level worthy of our national team. Not due to a question of age or other reasons that, although I have not heard them directly, I have certainly felt. Because age in itself is not a virtue or a defect; it’s just a number that is not necessarily related to performance or ability.”
 

"I admire and envy players like [Luka] Modric, [Lionel] Messi and Pepe. They are the essence of tradition, values, meritocracy and justice in football. Unfortunately, it won't be like that for me because football isn't always fair, and football is never just football."

"This is something I have to accept, albeit with this sadness I share with you but also with my head held high and thankful for all these years and for your support.
"I come away with unforgettable memories, all the titles we've fought for and celebrated together, and the tremendous pride I feel as the most capped Spanish international of all time."

“This badge, this shirt and these fans, all of you, have made me happy. I’ll continue to support my country with the passion of someone lucky enough to proudly represent it 180 times. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who believed in me!”

Debuting as an 18-year-old in 2005, Ramos is Spain's most-capped player of all time with 180 matches for the national team under his belt and is also the nation's joint-ninth highest all-time scorer with 23 goals. He was a vital member of the Spain team that won three successive major tournaments – the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. He did not appear in the squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and his last appearance was in March last year.