Spain captain Sergio Busquets announces retirement

DOHA: Spain captain Sergio Busquets on Friday took to social media platform Instagram to announce his retirement from international football with La Roja failing to make it past the group stage in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The Barcelona midfielder, who scored two international goals and who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and the European Championship two years later, wrote on Instagram: "I would like to announce that after almost 15 years and 143 matches, the moment has arrived to bid farewell to the national team."

Busquets made his debut for La Roja against Turkey in April 2009 and went on to make 143 appearances, behind only Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos in the country's history.

The 34-year-old captained Spain in each of their four games at the World Cup in Qatar, missing a penalty in the shootout as Luis Enrique's side were knocked out by Morocco at the last-16 stage.

In the Instagram post, Busquets paid tribute to the variety of people involved in his successful Spain career.

"I would like to thank all the people who have accompanied me on this long road," he wrote.

"From Vicente del Bosque who gave me the opportunity to Luis Enrique for making me enjoy until the last second." IANS

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