Spain and Atlético Madrid star Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31, bringing his career with the national team to an unexpected end shortly after helping Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Llorente confirmed his decision in a statement shared on social media, admitting that he is still young but insisting that the choice was personal and made after careful consideration.
“I’ve decided to bring my time with the Spanish national team to an end despite being aware that I’m still young,” Llorente said.
“It’s a personal decision, one I’ve thought about very carefully and, above all, one that comes from the heart. It has been an honour to represent my country.”
The decision comes just weeks after Llorente was part of the Spain squad that won the 2026 World Cup. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final to lift the trophy, although Llorente remained an unused substitute in the decisive match.
Llorente made his senior Spain debut in 2020 and went on to earn 27 international appearances. He represented the country at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup before playing a role in Spain’s successful 2026 World Cup campaign.
During the 2026 tournament, the versatile Atlético Madrid player was used mainly as a right-back. He started Spain’s opening match against Cape Verde and also featured against Uruguay, where he provided an assist.
His involvement reduced as the tournament progressed.
Despite ending his international career, Llorente is expected to continue playing at club level with Atlético Madrid.
