Marcos Llorente’s last time wearing a Spain shirt ended with hoisting the World Cup.
The 31-year-old Atletico midfielder announced his international retirement on Thursday. Llorente appeared in three matches for La Roja during this summer’s tournament. His last appearance came in the semi-finals victory over Spain.
“I am aware that I am still young and that, perhaps, if I kept performing well, I might still have years ahead of me playing in this jersey,” Llorente wrote on Instagram. “I know many of you won’t understand this — and, honestly, I probably wouldn’t have understood it either from the outside. But it is a personal decision, one I have weighed carefully and, above all, one that comes from the heart.”
The Real Madrid youth product insists that winning the World Cup didn’t affect his decision. He was going out, win or lose.
“Regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we had won or lost, I had already made up my mind,” Llorente said. “I can only be infinitely grateful to everyone I have crossed paths with over the years — people who made it possible for my family and me to experience unique and unforgettable moments.”
A native of Madrid, Llorente ends his international career having earned 27 caps since his senior debut in 2020. He was also a member of Spain’s squad at the 2022 World Cup, but Llorente did not participate in La Roja’s triumph at Euro 2024.
Llorente is in his eighth season at Atleti after a £35 million move from Real. He’s made three appearances, thus far, this season.
