A major announcement has been made in the world of football. Legendary Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi has officially announced his retirement from the national team. The 38-year-old veteran's final match for the "albiceleste" was the final of the 2026 World Cup.
This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the player's official statement on Instagram. In his farewell message, Otamendi admitted that he is leaving the national team with a sense of duty fulfilled and peace of mind, despite the defeat in the decisive World Cup match.
"The Greatest Privilege"
Otamendi emphasized that wearing the national team jersey was always his dream. In his statement, he wrote: "Today I have to write the hardest words of my entire career. Since childhood, I dreamed of wearing the Argentina national team jersey. This was the greatest privilege that football gave me. Thank you, Argentina. Thank you for allowing me to fulfill my dream — to become a world champion".
The veteran also addressed the new generation of footballers, urging them to never stop believing in themselves, and assured that the next chapter in the history of Argentine football will be victorious.
Great Statistics
Otamendi made his debut for the Argentina national team in May 2009. During this time, the defender played 139 matches, scoring 8 goals and providing 3 assists.
In terms of the number of matches played, the defender ranks fifth in the history of the national team. Ahead of him are only:
- Lionel Messi
- Javier Mascherano
- Angel Di Maria
- Javier Zanetti
Together with the national team, Otamendi won the main trophies of his career, becoming one of the key players in the history of Argentine football.
