Breaking: Raphael Varane retires from France national team at 29

Raphael Varane has announced his decision to retire from international football, ending his career with France. The 29-year-old earned 93 caps for the French national team during his career. 

He was a part of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and also won the 2021 Nations League. While he returned from injury in time for the 2022 World Cup, he could not help the team defend their title and they finished as runners-up. 

Raphael Varane announces retirement from France national team 

“Representing our beautiful country for a decade has been one of the greatest honours of my life,” Raphael Varane said in a statement. “Every time I wore that special blue jersey I felt an immense sense of pride, the duty to give everything, to play with my heart and to win every time we took the field.

“I’ve been thinking about it for several months and I decided that it was the right time for me to retire from international football.”

Since making his debut in 2013, he has emerged as one of the best central defenders in the world with France. He follows captain Hugo Lloris, who also announced his retirement from the national team following the defeat in the final in Qatar. 

Varane has had to struggle for fitness after his move to Manchester United from Real Madrid. The centre-back will now play exclusively for club football, and has cited family reasons and the pressure of performing for both setups behind his decision to call it a day with France.