Otamendi retires from int’l football after 139 caps
Veteran Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi has decided to retire from the national team after earning no fewer than 139 caps in his entire career.
The 38-year-old player announced his retirement from national team duties in a video post shared on his official Instagram page on Thursday evening.
Otamendi who recently joined River Plate disclosed in his post on social media that it was a great privilege to wear the colours of the Argentina national team.
“I dreamed from a very young age of wearing the Argentina shirt. It was the greatest privilege football gave me,” he said.
The player who has represented his country at four World Cups and five Copa American Cups also made mention of his team’s recent loss to Spain at the 2026 World Cup finals.
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“Fate wanted my last match to be a World Cup Final. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I leave with my head held high because this group fought until the very last second. I leave knowing I gave everything.” Otemendi noted.
He also used the medium to thank fans of the national team for their unwavering support throughout the tournament and also expressed gratitude to his family for showing him love.
“You made us feel that every time the national anthem played, we weren’t just eleven players, but millions defending the same dream.
“Never stop believing. There will be setbacks that seem impossible to overcome, but this shirt always rewards those who defend it with humility, sacrifice and love. Keep your heads up, keep fighting and never let a defeat steal your dreams,” the player added.
Otamendi retires from football after a career spanning 17-years ending as the his country’s fifth most capped player in his country behind Javier Zanneti (145 caps), Angel Di Maria (145 caps), Javier Mascherano (147 caps), and Lionel Messi (207 caps).
