Madrid: Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has announced his retirement from international football. "I want to announce that my time with the Spanish national team has come to an end," he said in a statement.

"The hardest thing is knowing when to say goodbye, and after thinking about it, I think that my time with the national team has come to an end." The 32-year-old was a key member of the Spanish sides that have won the past two European Championships in 2008 and 2012, as well as their first World Cup in 2010.