Legendary Spanish defender Sergio Ramos has called time on his illustrious international career after he decided to hang his boots for Spain. The 2010 World Cup winner is considered by many one of the greatest players of all time which saw him win multiple international and club accolades. In 2010, Ramos was part of the Spanish team that beat the Netherlands in the final of the FIFA World Cup while he also won the Euro 2008 and Eur0 2012 with the Spanish side.
Decorated international career
At the time of retirement, Ramos played on 180 occasions for Spain and represented the side from 2005. He last represented Spain in March 2021 and was out of favour for the Euro 2020 and the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
"The time has come," Ramos posted on social media on Thursday.
"The time to say goodbye to our beloved and exciting national team.
"It's the end of a road that I hoped would stretch out further and would end with a better taste in my mouth, on a par with all the success we achieved with La Roja."
Ramos said he came to the decision after having a telephone call with De la Fuente, who took over from Enrique after Spain were knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the last 16.
"This morning I received the call from the current coach who told me that he doesn't and will not count on me, regardless of the level I can show or how I continue my sporting career," Ramos said.
Ramos did not play for his nation since coming on as a late substitute in a 3-1 win over Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier two years ago.
"I think that my path deserved to end because of my personal decision or if my performance was not up to the level that our national team deserve, but not because of age or other reasons," he said.
"Being young or less young is not a virtue or a defect, it is only a temporary trait that is not necessarily related to performance or ability.
"I look with admiration and envy at [Luka] Modric, [Lionel] Messi, Pepe... the essence, tradition, values, meritocracy and justice in football.
"Unfortunately, it will not happen to me because football is not always fair and football is never only about football."
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Focus on club career
Ramos will now concentrate on his club career at PSG where he will have to be at his best as they trail 0-1 against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The team from French capital also sit top of the pile in Ligue 1.
