Nicolás Otamendi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team.

Otamendi posted on his Instagram page, announcing that he will no longer player with Argentina. The 38 year old had previously stated that the 2026 World Cup would be his last with the national team and Otamendi made retired on Thursday.

The Argentine played 139 matches with the Argentina national team, 52 of them being World Cup qualifying matches, 38 of them friendly matches, 27 Copa America matches, 21 World Cup matches and one Finalissima.

With the Argentina national team, Otamendi has won a World Cup, a Finalissima and two Copa America trophies.

Juan Román Riquelme has commented on Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni.

Riquelme played alongside Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni with the Argentina national team at the 2006 World Cup. In 1997, alongside Lionel Scaloni, Walter Samuel and Pablo Aimar, who are all part of the current Argentina national team coaching staff, Riquelme won the U20 World Cup. Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, Riquelme spoke about both Messi and Scaloni. Here is what he had to say:

“A coach is very important in a squad but sometimes we make up novels that aren’t so real. It’s easier for coaches with Messi than with other players because you have to give him fewer instructions and because they’re privileged to lead him.

“Scaloni is among the best in the history of our football. Grateful for the joys that he, his technical staff and the players brought us. It makes me very happy because we all grew up together, we have known each other since we were 14 years old. When we had Maradona, we thought there wouldn’t be another one and then we had Messi, who even makes us wonder if he’s even better.”