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Xherdan Shaqiri has announced his retirement from international football after earning 125 caps with the Swiss national team, Soccernet.football reports.
The 32-year-old midfielder, currently with Chicago Fire in the United States, is Switzerland’s second most-capped player, just behind Granit Xhaka, who has 130 caps.
Shaqiri, who previously played for Bayern Munich and Liverpool, made his international debut in March 2010 at the age of 18. Over his career, he played in four World Cups and three European Championships.
Shaqiri’s final match for Switzerland was the Euro 2024 quarter-final against England, where he scored in the penalty shoot-out. Switzerland lost 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Duesseldorf on July 6.
“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 social media.
Shaqiri started his career at Basel, playing a key role in their three Swiss Super League titles during his time there. He moved to Bayern Munich in 2012, winning three Bundesliga titles in three seasons, despite not securing a regular starting spot. In January 2015, he transferred to Inter Milan for €15 million.
After a brief spell at Inter, Shaqiri joined Stoke City in the summer of 2015 for a club-record £12 million. Following Stoke’s relegation from the Premier League in 2018, he moved to Liverpool for £13.5 million.
At Liverpool, he won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Premier League.
Shaqiri retired with 32 goals for Switzerland, making him the fourth-highest goalscorer in the country’s history, behind Alexander Frei, Kubilay Turkyilmaz, and Max Abegglen.
