Buenos Aires, July 24 -- Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished 17-year career in which he won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa America titles.

The 38-year-old centre-back made 139 appearances for Argentina and was part of the squad that reached this year's FIFA World Cup final in the United States.

The defending champions fell 1-0 to Spain in the title match, marking Otamendi's final appearance for the national team, as per Reuters.

"Today I have to write the most difficult words of my career. As fate would have it, my last match was a World Cup final. It wasn't the result we wanted, but I'm leaving with my head held high, knowing that ...