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Soccer Football - LaLiga - Sevilla v Atletico Madrid - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - August 29, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Alex Baena celebrates scoring their third goal with Marcos Llorente REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

World Cup Winner Marcos Llorente Retires From Spain Duty at 31

Spain and Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31, just weeks after helping La Roja win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Llorente made the surprise announcement on social media Thursday, revealing that he had made the decision after carefully considering his future with the national team.

“After turning the decision over in my mind for a long time, I have decided to bring my time with the national team to a close,” Llorente wrote.

The versatile player was part of Spain’s victorious World Cup squad and served primarily as backup to Tottenham defender Pedro Porro at right-back.

Llorente started two group-stage matches but featured for just six more minutes during the remainder of the tournament, coming off the bench late in Spain’s comfortable semi-final victory over France.

Despite still being relatively young, Llorente said he had already made up his mind about ending his international career.

“I realise that I am still young and that, perhaps, if I continued to perform well, I would still have years left to play in this shirt,” he said.

“I know that many of you won’t understand this, and, frankly, I probably wouldn’t have understood it either if I’d been looking at it from the outside.

“But it is a personal decision, one I have thought through very carefully and, above all, one that comes from the heart.”

Llorente added that his decision had been made regardless of whether he was selected for the World Cup or whether Spain ultimately lifted the trophy.

“Regardless of whether I’d have gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we’d have won or not, I’d already made up my mind,” he said.

The midfielder leaves the national team with 27 caps after a six-year international career. He said he would especially treasure the final 52 days spent with Spain’s World Cup-winning squad.

“I’ll cherish everything I’ve experienced, but above all, these last 52 days. With a wonderful group who fought right to the end to put Spain at the very top. And that’s exactly what they did.”

Llorente began his professional career at Real Madrid before making the move across the Spanish capital to Atletico Madrid in 2019.

At club level, he has won two Champions League titles and a La Liga crown.