Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger announced Friday that he is retiring from international football after making 120 appearances over 12 years.
“I have just asked the coach not to nominate me anymore for the national team because I would like to step back,” the 31-year-old Schweinsteiger said on Twitter. “We achieved something historic and emotional in winning the World Cup title in 2014, something that can’t be repeated in my career. That’s why it’s right and reasonable to call it a day and to wish the team all the best for qualification for the 2018 World Cup.”
Schweinsteiger expressed his disappointment at the team’s failure to win this year’s European Championship but he remembered “moments that were unbelievably special and successful.”
The combative midfielder produced an inspired performance to help Germany beat Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.