Ivorian national team captain Yaya Toure has announced he’s retiring from the international game after 12 years representing his country.
33 year old Toure announced the news with a post on his official website Tuesday.
“Writing this note was probably ‘the most difficult match of my life.’ After 14 years at the highest level, I’m sure this is the right time for me!” he wrote.
“The fact that I am 33 now, the intensity of training and the multitude of games are not the reasons why I am making this decision.”
Toure represented his country in 102 games over the span of 12 years, appearing in three world Cup finals and three Afcon finals, including their win over Ghana in South Africa last year.
Toure also made history as the only African player to win four consecutive African footballer of the Year awards. He’s also had a successful European career first with Barcelona, and then Manchester City, where he won the Premier League in 2012 and 2014.