Bastian Schweinsteiger. ReutersBerlin: German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has retired from international football, he announced on Friday, saying he was disappointed to have not finished his career with a win at Euro 2016 in France.
"It wasn't to be and I have to accept it," he said in a statement on his Twitter feed.
"The historic and emotional high was winning the World Cup in 2014," added the Manchester United player who had 13 seasons with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Schweinsteiger was the captain of the German team which went down 0-2 to France in the semifinals of the Euro 2016 semifinal. He gave away a penalty after a handball and it proved to be one of the turning points of the last-four clash.
Schweinsteiger was vice-captain of the national team when Germany edged Argentina in extra-time to claim a fourth World Cup title and took over as captain when his then Bayern Munich teammate Philipp Lahm stood down after the 2014 tournament.
His seventh major tournament saw him lead Germany to the last four of the European Championships earlier this month, but the 2-0 defeat to hosts France proved to be his 120th and last appearance.
His first call-up came as a 19-year-old in June 2004 and a year later, he scored the first of 24 international goals.
"I was able to turn out 120 times for my country and experience moments which were indescribably beautiful and successful," he tweeted.
"It is only right and sensible to finish now and wish the team all the best in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup."
After playing for two junior clubs the player known universally as "Schweini" joined Bayern in 1998 as a teenager.
He played 500 matches for the most successful club in Germany, winning eight Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League before joining Manchester United two years later.
His first season at Old Trafford was beset by poor form and regular injuries, and retiring from international duty may have been one way of attempting to persuade new United manager Jose Mourinho of his determination to seal a regular place.
The announcement came on the day that British media reported Schweinsteiger would be sold if Mourinho succeeded in signing French midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus.
(With agency inputs)
