1 of 3 | Argentina’s Nicolás Otamendi (R) and Lionel Messi react after losing to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi will retire from international soccer after his team’s World Cup Final loss to Spain, he announced on Instagram.
Otamendi, 38, made his senior team debut in 2009. He appeared in 139 matches, including through Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning run. Otamendi clocked 308 minutes for the Argentines at the 2026 tournament. He was a 44th minute substitute in the finale.
“Today, I find myself writing the hardest words of my entire career,” Otamendi wrote on Instagram. “I dreamed as a very young boy of wearing the Argentina national team shirt and it was the greatest privilege that football gave me. I defended it with my soul, with pride and with the responsibility to know what it means to millions of Argentinians.”
Otamendi also won the Copa America with the Argentines in 2021 and 2024. He was captain at the 2024 Summer Olympics, when Argentina lost to tournament host France in a quarterfinal.
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“I bid farewell with the peace of mind that I have given my all,” Otamendi wrote. “I never held back a single ounce of effort, I never stopped believing, and I never stopped seeing this shirt as the greatest honor of my life.
“Thank you, Argentina. Thank you for letting me fulfill my dream of becoming a world champion and of wearing the most beautiful shirt in the world.”
Otamendi, who signed with River Plate in May, remains under contract with the Buenos Aires-based Argentine club through 2027.
Spain defeats Argentina to win 2026 FIFA World Cup
Spain’s captain Rodri raises the trophy as he and his teammates celebrate after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup in East Rutherford, N.J.,, on June 19, 2026. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
