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Sergio Ramos, the most capped player in the history of Spanish football, has announced his retirement from international football after being left out of the national team’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

In a heartfelt statement on social media, the 36-year-old Paris St-Germain defender expressed his disappointment at being excluded from the squad and said that it was time for him to bid farewell to the national team.

“The time has come to say goodbye to our beloved and exciting national team. It’s the end of a road that I hoped would stretch out further and would end with a better taste in my mouth, on a par with all the success we achieved with La Roja,” said Ramos.

The announcement came after Ramos received a phone call from the new coach, who informed him that he would not be included in the squad, regardless of his performance or level of play.

“I think that my path deserved to end because of my personal decision or if my performance was not up to the level that our national team deserve, but not because of age or other reasons,” he said.

Ramos, who made his international debut at the age of 18 in 2005, went on to become a vital part of the Spanish team that won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.

Despite his impressive record and his contribution to the national team’s success, Ramos acknowledged that football can be unfair and that his retirement from international football was not related to his age or ability.

“Being young or less young is not a virtue or a defect, it is only a temporary trait that is not necessarily related to performance or ability,” he said.

The announcement of Ramos’ retirement has been met with an outpouring of support and admiration from fans and fellow footballers alike.

Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, tweeted, “Congratulations on an incredible international career, my friend. It was an honour to share the field with you.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who has faced Ramos on numerous occasions in the El Clasico, praised the defender’s “strength, courage and leadership”.

Despite the disappointment of being left out of the national team’s squad, Ramos remains focused on his club career and is determined to continue playing at the highest level.

“I look forward to continuing to work hard with my club to give my all every day and to keep achieving success on and off the pitch,” he said.

Ramos’ retirement marks the end of an era for Spanish football, but his legacy as one of the country’s greatest players will live on.