Marcos Llorente has made the surprise decision to retire from international football with Spain, bringing his national-team career to an end just weeks after the country’s triumphant World Cup campaign in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 31-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder announced his decision on social media, revealing that he had already made up his mind to step away from international football before the tournament began. Llorente went on to feature in three matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding another chapter to a senior international career that saw him win 27 caps for Spain.

🇪🇸 Marcos Llorente se retira de la selección a los 31 años con un emotivo comunicado a través de sus redes sociales

🤝 Eternamente agradecidos, vuelve cuando quieras pic.twitter.com/tEGeH7IKMF

— MARCA (@marca) September 3, 2026