Marcos Llorente Retires From Spain Duty Weeks After World Cup Triumph

Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football with Spain, just weeks after helping the national team lift the 2026 World Cup, in a decision that caught supporters and teammates by surprise.

"After spending a lot of time thinking it over, I have decided to close my chapter with the National Team," the 31-year-old Atletico Madrid star wrote in an emotional Instagram post. "I know that many of you won't understand it, and, surely, I wouldn't have understood it either from the outside. But it is a personal decision, deeply considered and, above all, deeply felt." He was clear the decision predated the tournament, adding: "Regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we had won or not, I had already made this decision."

Llorente made his Spain debut in November 2020 and finishes with 27 caps, having featured at Euro 2021, the 2022 World Cup and this summer's triumphant 2026 campaign, where he backed up Pedro Porro at right-back. He started two group games but played just six minutes across the rest of the knockout rounds, though he insisted his limited World Cup involvement did not influence the decision.

The Atletico Madrid star continues his club career, where his honours include two Champions League titles and a La Liga crown, having previously played for city rivals Real Madrid before switching sides in 2019.