Otamendi announces retirement from international football
Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi has announced his retirement from international football, two days after the Lionel Messi farewell match against the Benin Republic.
Otamendi featured in the farewell match and scored the first goal of the encounter, which was assisted by Lionel Messi.
He scored eight goals in 139 appearances since making his debut with the national team 17 years ago.
He was part of Argentina’s teams that lifted the 2022 World Cup and the Copa America in 2021 and in 2024.
The River Plate defender took to Instagram on Thursday to savour the moment while also heaping praises on Lionel Messi.
Otamendi wrote on Instagram: “Today, we bring this chapter to an end together as players of this great Argentina National Team.
“It is challenging to articulate the significance of this moment. Representing this nation was, is, and will perpetually be among the greatest sources of honor in my existence. Every training session, every competition, every journey, every embrace, and every instance I heard the national anthem shall remain indelibly etched in my consciousness.”
Read Also: Arsenal’s Dowman presented with three Guinness World Record plaques
Otamendi was delighted to share his retirement moment with Lionel Messi, describing it as remarkable.
He continued: “And should this day have already been remarkable, sharing it with Leo Messi renders it profoundly memorable. The preeminent player in the history of the sport, the individual who instructed us to maintain unwavering belief, to recover following every adversity, and to uphold this shirt with our devotion. What an extraordinary honor it has been to participate in this trajectory and to observe a legacy that shall endure perpetually in football and in the consciousness of all Argentine.”
Otamendi described his time in the national team as a distinction of honour.
He concluded: “I depart with honor, appreciation, and the assurance of having committed myself entirely whenever I possessed the distinction of serving my nation. I express my gratitude, Argentina, for all you have provided. Thank you for instilling in me this sense of honor in wearing the light blue and white. A shirt for eternity.”
Otamendi and Messi participated in 107 matches together, with both athletes present simultaneously on the field, achieving three combined goal contributions.
Otamendi recently returned to Argentina to play for Rivers Plate after spending majority of his playing career in Europe, representing the likes Porto, Valencia, Man City and Benfica.
