Switzerland Football Player Xherdan Shaqiri Announces Retirement From International Career

On Monday, Swiss football star Xherdan Shaqiri announced his retirement from international football following the conclusion of EURO 2024.

Shaqiri, 32, ends his 14-year international career with the Switzerland national team. He was part of the Swiss squad that competed in the recently concluded EURO 2024 in Germany, where the team reached the quarter-final stage.

In his club career, Shaqiri has played for notable teams such as Basel, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Stoke City, Liverpool, and Lyon. He currently plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Chicago Fire FC.

Switzerland beat Italy 2-0 in the Round of 16 of the EURO 2024. However, they lost against England in the quarterfinal after a sad 5-3 loss in the penalty shootout.

In EURO 2024, Shaqiri scored just one goal against Scotland, which helped them confirm their spot in the knockout stage of the prestigious tournament.

Taking to his official social media handle, Shaqiri wrote an emotional note to announce his retirement. The 32-year-old said that it’s his time to bid adieu to the national team after a 14-year-old journey with them.

“Seven tournaments, many goals, 14 years with the Swiss national team and unforgettable moments. It’s time to say goodbye to the national team. Great memories remain and I say to you all: THANK YOU,” Shaqiri wrote on X.

The attacking midfielder played his first match for Switzerland in 2010 and since then, he has made 125 appearances and scored 32 goals for them.

He also played four FIFA World Cups with the Swiss side in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions of the prestigious tournament.

Inputs from ANI