SERGIO BUSQUETS has retired from international football following Spain’s early World Cup exit.
The Barcelona midfielder, 34, wore the captain’s armband for La Roja at Qatar 2022.
𝗨𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝘆𝗮 𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔.
@5sergiob se despide de la @SEFutbol tras ganarlo 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗢.
Campeón del Mundial de 2010 y de la Eurocopa de 2012.
𝟭𝟰𝟯 veces internacional.
¡¡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗦, 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜!!
https://t.co/L0JmE4cVBB pic.twitter.com/NJ4T1dcg8k
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) December 16, 2022
However, his side were dumped out on penalties by Morocco in the last 16.
And Busquets has now called time on his international career.
He made 143 caps for Spain, making his debut in 2009 before winning the World Cup in South Africa the following year and adding the European Championships in 2012.
His two goals for Spain both came in late 2014 with strikes against Macedonia and Belarus in Euro 2016 qualifying.
However, his final touch of a football for his country will be a painful memory.
Busquets stepped up to take the third Spain penalty in the shootout against Morocco.
However, just like his team-mates Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Soler, he failed to find the net.
Atlas Lions goalkeeper Yassine Bounou flung himself to the right to palm Busquets’ effort away.
Achraf Hakimi then stepped up and dinked the ball down the middle to send Morocco through to the quarter-finals – and Spain packing home.
And Busquets has followed in the footsteps of manager Luis Enrique by quitting his role with the national team – although the gaffer was sacked.
The midfielder will now decide on the future of his club career.
The Barcelona academy graduate broke through into the first team at the Nou Camp under Pep Guardiola.
He has stayed with Barca for his entire career, racking up 696 appearances.
However, his current contract expires at the end of the season when he turns 35.
And he is mulling over whether to sign a new deal at the Nou Camp or join Inter Miami in 2023.
Busquets’ final touch for Spain was his saved penalty against Morocco
