World Cup winner Llorente retires from Spain team at 31

Marcos Llorente, who plays for Atletico Madrid and was part of Spain's World Cup-winning squad in July, announced his retirement from the national team aged of 31 in a surprise social media post on Thursday.

"After turning the decision over in my mind for a long time, I have decided to bring my time with the national team to a close," posted Llorente.

At the World Cup, Llorente backed up Tottenham's Pedro Porro at right back, starting two group games but only playing six minutes the rest of the way, coming on as Spain saw out a comfortable semifinal win over France.

Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football. You’re part Spanish football history, and it makes us extremely happy to be able to spend every day with you ⭐️⭐️We’re proud of what you have accomplished. Let’s keep enjoying every minute together ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/gjW5sP0LqX

"I realise that I am still young and that, perhaps, if I continued to perform well, I would still have years left to play in this shirt," he added in a post accompanied by a photo of Llorente kissing the World Cup.

"I know that many of you won't understand this, and, frankly, I probably wouldn't have understood it either if I'd been looking at it from the outside," wrote Llorente who finishes with 27 caps ove a six-year international career.

"But it is a personal decision, one I have thought through very carefully and, above all, one that comes from the heart

"Regardless of whether I'd have gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we'd have won or not, I'd already made up my mind."

"I'll cherish everything I've experienced, but above all, these last 52 days. With a wonderful group who fought right to the end to put Spain at the very top. And that's exactly what they did."

Llorente began his career at Real Madrid before moving across Madrid to Atletico, in 2019. His club honours include two Champions League titles and a LaLiga title.