Spain's World Cup-winning midfielder Marcos Llorente retires from national team

Atlético Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from the Spanish national team. The 31-year-old revealed the decision on social media, saying he had reached it after deep personal reflection. Llorente was part of the Spain squad that won the 2026 World Cup and was also capable of playing at right-back. He said representing his country and being part of that chapter of Spanish football had been an honor, while adding that he remains young enough to continue performing at a high level for his club for years to come. The midfielder earned 27 caps since his first call-up in 2020. He appeared in three matches at the 2026 World Cup, with his final international outing coming in the semifinal.