WORLD CUP WINNER, SILVA RETIRES FROM SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM

David Silva who with 35 goals is the fourth-highest goalscorer of all time for Spain has retired from the former World Cup winning team.

  The 32-year-old won 2010 World Cup and two UEFA EURO titles in 2008 and 2012 with Spain and last played for the squad at the Russia 2018 Round of 16.

In all, he spent 12 years before the retirement from the team that is famously called “La Roja”.

The announcement came from his official Instagram and Twitter page which when translated from Spanish read:

“It’s not easy to write this after all that I have experienced. I’ve been thinking things through for the past days and weeks, thinking what the national team means to me.

“Without a doubt it is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to take and I say it from humility and gratitude.

“The national team has given me everything and taught me how to grow from the youth squads to the senior side.

“I can proudly say I played 125 games and have scored 35 goals with the national team, throughout the past 12 years, where we won two EUROs and a World Cup.

“I leave happy for everything I have achieved in this team, what I’ve dreamed and experienced with a team that will never be forgotten. I put an end to a stage in my life, full of emotion for all the moments that come to mind, like the role of Luis Aragones, a teacher we will never forget.

“I cannot leave without thanking my teammates, all the coaches who had faith in me and with the RFEF (Spanish Football Federation) employees, who give it all to make our life easier.

“I also wish to thank my family for their support all these years, without their help I would not have been part of the great history behind the national team.     “And, of course, I wish to thank all the fans who shared their support and respect everytime I wore the Spain jersey.

Thank you, good luck and farewell!”