Marcos Llorente, a key figure in Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph, has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31. The Atletico Madrid defender confirmed his decision on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026, just days after lifting the coveted trophy.
Llorente, who primarily plays as a full-back, earned 27 caps for his country since making his debut at 25 in November 2020 under former manager Luis Enrique. His international career culminated in participation in two World Cup tournaments, with the most recent being the historic 2026 edition hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“I’ve decided to bring my time with the Spanish national team to an end despite I’m aware that I’m still young,” Llorente stated, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. “It’s a personal decision, one I’ve thought about very carefully and, above all, one that comes from the heart.”
World Cup glory and key contributions
While Llorente did not feature in the 2026 World Cup final, his contributions were vital in Spain’s journey to glory. His moments included:
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- Assisting Alex Baena in a crucial 1-0 group stage victory over Uruguay.
- Playing six minutes in the tense 2-0 semi-final win against France.
Throughout his club career, Llorente has remained in Spain, progressing through Real Madrid’s youth ranks, enjoying a loan spell at Alaves, and eventually joining Atletico Madrid in July 2019. He has been an integral part of Diego Simeone’s squad, featuring in all three of Atletico Madrid’s matches this season, which have seen them record two wins and one draw.
A week of high-profile departures
“It has been an honor to represent my country,” Llorente added, reflecting on his time with the national team. His announcement was met with an outpouring of tributes from teammates, including Ferran Torres, Mikel Merino, David Raya, Alex Baena, and Pedro Porro, who shared messages of appreciation on social media after Llorente posted his retirement message and a gallery of career images on Instagram.
Llorente’s decision comes in a week of significant international retirements, notably following Lionel Messi’s announcement on Monday, August 31st. Messi’s departure from the Argentina national team came after their 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, where Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in extra-time. Messi had previously led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar in late 2022.
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