Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain has announced his retirement from international duty, as reported on BBC Sport.
Higuain has been much criticised throughout his career for not putting in good performances whilst playing for Argentina.
The striker, who is on loan to Chelsea from Italian Serie A side Juventus, has a prolific scoring record in club football but he has struggled to replicate that on the international scene.
He was part of the Argentina squads that lost in three major finals. He said:
People remember the goals I missed and not the ones I scored. When you criticise someone maliciously it hurts everyone. I saw how much my family suffered, but I gave everything for the national team.
It’s one thing to say that the national team did not achieve our objectives, but when people talk about failure it’s very hard.
My cycle with the national team is over, now I’m watching things from the outside to the joy of many people.
He made 75 appearances for his country, scoring 31 times.
