Nicolás Otamendi says goodbye to Argentina: «My last match was a final» | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi brought a historic chapter with the Argentina national team to an end. Through an emotional message published on his social media, the new River Plate defender confirmed his retirement from the national side and said goodbye after playing in the 2026 World Cup final, which marked his last match with La Albiceleste.

“Today I have to write the hardest words of my entire career,” the footballer began in a lengthy letter in which he looked back on his journey with the Argentina national team and expressed the pride he felt in representing the country. “I dreamed from a very young age of wearing the Argentina national team shirt. It was the greatest privilege football gave me. I defended it with my soul, with pride, and with the responsibility of knowing what it means to millions of Argentinians,” he wrote.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Official Twitter: @Notamendi30 (@nicolasotamendi30)

The general’s farewell

Otamendi also referred to the defeat in the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina fell to Spain, and highlighted the squad’s effort. “Fate decided that my last match would be a World Cup final. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I leave with my head held high knowing this group fought until the very last second,” he said.

In another part of the message, the defender stressed that he leaves with the peace of mind of having given everything in every call-up. “I never held back a single drop of effort, I never stopped believing, and I never stopped feeling that this shirt was the greatest honor of my life,” he stated.

The experienced center-back also gave special thanks to the Argentine fans and his family. “Thank you to the Argentine fans for your unconditional love, for every flag, and for every song. You made it so that every time the anthem played, we felt that we were not eleven players, but millions defending the same dream,” he said. He also acknowledged the support of his loved ones throughout his career: “I never walked this path alone; we took every step together.”

Before closing his farewell, Otamendi left a message for the new generations of footballers who will continue defending the Albiceleste shirt. “Never stop believing. There will be blows that seem impossible to overcome, but this shirt always rewards those who defend it with humility, sacrifice, and love. I am convinced that the next chapter of our history will belong to you,” he wrote.

Finally, the world champion in Qatar 2022 closed his letter with a statement full of emotion: “Today I say goodbye to the Argentina national team, but with immense pride for having represented my country. Because titles remain in history, but the love for these colors lasts a lifetime. Thank you, Argentina. Thank you for letting me fulfill the dream of becoming a world champion and wearing the most beautiful shirt in the world. Farewell forever, Selección

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.