Uruguay’s Boca Juniors striker Edinson Cavani announced his retirement from international football on Thursday.
A 2011 Copa America winner, the 37-year-old Cavani is Uruguay’s second-most capped player (136) and second highest scorer (58) behind Luis Suarez, having made his debut in a 2-2 draw with Colombia in a friendly in February 2008.
Known as “El Matador”, Cavani has made 136 appearances for his national team.
“I have been and always will be blessed to have pulled on this shirt to represent what I love most in the world, my country,” he said in a message on social media, dedicated to his “beloved Celeste” (the nickname of the Uruguayan national team).
“I want to dedicate myself to this new stage of my career and give everything I have to where I need to be.
“Today I’ve decided to retire, but I’ll always follow you with my heart pounding, just like when I played in that beautiful shirt.”
Cavani made his debut for Uruguay in 2008 and represented his country at four World Cups — the first of which in 2010, he reached the semi-finals and was voted the tournament’s best player.
His crowning glory in sky blue, however, was a 2011 Copa America triumph in neighbouring Argentina.
At club level Cavani won six Ligue 1 titles and five French Cups with Paris St Germain between 2014 and 2020. He scored 200 goals in all competitions for the Parisian club.
Cavani also played for Napoli, winning the 2011-12 Coppa Italia, and Manchester United. He joined Boca Juniors in July 2023 after parting ways with LaLiga side Valencia.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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