Steve Mandanda announced his retirement from international football

• Mandanda made his France debut in 2008 and amassed 35 caps.
• He participated in three World Cups and was on the team in Qatar.
• Hugo Lloris most-capped player, also retiring.

A World Cup champion with France in 2018, goalkeeper Steve Mandanda announced his retirement from international football on Saturday at the age of 37.

“Today, the France team ends here for me,” Rennes guardian Mandanda said at a press conference ahead of Sunday´s game at home to Paris Saint-Germain.

Mandanda, who was born in Kinshasa, made his France debut in 2008 and amassed 35 caps for the national team. He participated in three World Cups and was on the team in Qatar, where France lost to Argentina in the final.

“I experienced some great moments with France, it´s been a privilege and joy for me to go through all these moments. But at 37 years old I think it´s the right time” to walk away, he said.

Hugo Lloris, France’s first-choice goalkeeper and most-capped player, announced on Monday that he was finishing his international career. Mandanda’s retirement announcement coincides with his.

“It allows us to come full circle with Hugo. We started together and we finish together. I didn´t have the same number of appearances as him but I´ve experienced a lot of things with him,” said Mandanda.

Despite having spent the majority of his career at Marseille, where he set a club record by playing 613 times and won the Ligue 1 championship in 2010, Mandanda signed a two-year contract with Rennes in July.

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