Veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas announced on Thursday he plans to retire from the Costa Rica national team after 16 years and over 100 international matches, including appearances in three World Cup tournaments.
The 37-year-old Navas made the announcement through his official social media accounts with a video where he described his career highlights.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the memories we have made. Together we have made history, facing the best players in the world, raising the name of Costa Rica to the highest level,” Navas said.
Navas, considered the best goalkeeper in Costa Rican history, led his national team to the quarterfinals in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He also played in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
Navas played with Real Madrid where he won the Champions League three times in a row. With Real Madrid, Navas also won one Spanish league title and one Copa del Rey.
After playing for five seasons in Spain he signed with Paris Saint-Germain in France, where he played four seasons.
Navas was expected to play with Costa Rica in the next Copa America but it was not clear if he plans to play in the tournament and then retire from the team. The Associated Press has contacted the Costa Rican Soccer Federation in an attempt to clarify the situation.
“I leave with a heartful of gratitude and my eyes looking forward, always carrying the name of our beloved Costa Rica,” Navas said. “A small country in territory but big in heart. It’s a difficult feeling to assimilate. This stage of my life with the national team has come to an end.”
