Madrid (AFP) - Defensive midfielder Marcos Llorente, Atlético de Madrid player and world champion with Spain in July, announced by surprise this Thursday in a message on social networks his retirement from the national team at the age of 31.

First modification: 09/03/2026 - 20:31

Llorente made his debut with the senior Spanish team in a friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam in November 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, and since then he has played 27 games for La Roja.

"After a long time thinking about it, I have decided to close my time with the national team. I am aware that I am still young and that, perhaps, if I continued doing things well, I would still have years left to continue playing with this shirt," he began in his message, which he accompanied with photographs of him with the 2026 World Cup trophy.

"I know that many of you will not understand it and, surely, I would not have understood it from the outside either. But it is a personal decision, very thoughtful and, above all, very taken," he continued.

From Luis Enrique to De la Fuente

The Spanish team was then led by Luis Enrique, the current PSG coach, and with him Llorente was included in the lists for the Euro Cup in 2021, where the team fell in the semifinals, and in the World Cup in 2022, where it reached the round of 16.

Already with Luis De la Fuente as coach, Llorente was included in the pre-list for the Euro 2024 Championship in Germany, but he did not enter the final squad for that tournament, so he could not be proclaimed champion there with his teammates.

Where he did participate was in the title at the 2026 World Cup, playing three games and providing an assist, for Álex Baena's goal with which Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the closing of their first phase group.

He did not come into play in the final won against Argentina (1-0), but he did have a few minutes in the semifinal against France (2-0).

"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," he said.

"I can only be infinitely grateful to all the people I have met during these years and who have made it possible for my family and I to live unique and unforgettable moments," he noted.

The Madrid player concluded by stressing that it was "a pride" to have played for Spain and "to be part of this history."

"It will always be your home"

On the official account of the Spanish team on the social network X, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said goodbye to the player after this retirement.

"A world champion says goodbye to what will always be his home. Thank you for every race, every battle and every moment, Marcos Llorente. This shirt is part of your history and you will always be part of ours," it read, along with a photo of the footballer kissing the World Cup trophy.

Marcos Llorente began his career at Real Madrid, spent a year (2016-2017) on loan at Alavés, and in 2019 he moved to neighboring Atlético de Madrid.

In his club football record, he won the Champions League in 2018 with Real Madrid, and the Spanish League with Atlético, in 2021.

© 2026 AFP

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