Hugo Lloris Retires From International Competition

Hugo Lloris, a goalkeeper for France and the 2018 World Cup champion, has retired from international football at the age of 36.

The captain of Tottenham has a record 145 caps for the French men’s team, 121 of them as skipper.

On Monday night, the French Football Federation announced the news, highlighting some of his accomplishments on Twitter, “A Legend. Bravo and THANK YOU for everything, Hugo.”

It expanded in a statement on its website: “After more than 14 years spent in the jersey of the French team, Hugo Lloris has chosen to put an end to his international career. The goalkeeper and captain of Les Bleus formalized his decision on Monday, January 9.”

Lloris made his debut for his country at the age of 21 in a friendly match against Uruguay in 2008, and he was a member of France’s World Cup-winning team in 2018.

He participated in four World Cups, which is a joint record for France. He did so in 2010, 2014, the memorable 2018 campaign, and most recently in 2022, when his team lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina 4-2 on penalties.

In Qatar, he overtook Lilian Thuram to become France’s all-time leader in caps. With 20 appearances for his country, he also holds the record for most World Cup games played.

Didier Deschamps, the manager of France, stated: “Hugo has decided to retire while he is still at the top of his game. He shared his thoughts and decision with me a few days ago.

“I must, we must respect it even if he still had his place in our team, as he demonstrated during the last World Cup, in Doha.

“A very great servant of the French team bows out and I want to salute his exceptional career.

Beyond all the records that his talent and professionalism have allowed him to break, beyond the essential role he played in our greatest conquests, the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 Nations League, our most beautiful journeys, the final of Euro 2016, and that of the 2022 World Cup.

“Hugo is a remarkable person on a human level. He was captain when I became coach in 2012, I kept the armband for him and I never had to regret it, quite the contrary.

“Hugo has a very high idea of ​​the French team, he has always been oriented towards the collective, and he has always put it forward, sometimes even to his detriment.

“It was a pleasure and an honour for me to be his trainer. I wish all coaches to have players like him to manage.

“Hugo has all my respect and gratitude. I wish him to be happy. A big thank you Hugo for having represented your country so well.”

Lloris started his career with Nice, making his first-team debut in 2005, before transferring to Lyon in 2008. This season, Lloris has made 17 Premier League appearances for Tottenham and has kept five clean sheets.

He joined Spurs in 2012, and in January 2022, he signed a two-and-a-half-year extension to his term, keeping him with the north London side through the summer of 2024.