Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi (19) (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)Decorated career comes to an endArgentina defender Nicolas Otamendi has announced his retirement from international football, ending a remarkable 17-year career with the national team.The 38-year-old leaves as one of Argentina's most successful defenders, having won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa America titles. His final appearance came in Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final in the United States.Otamendi made 139 appearances for Argentina and was a key figure in the team's success over the years. After the final, he shared an emotional message on Instagram, thanking the country for giving him the chance to achieve his biggest dream. "Today I have to write the most difficult words of my career. As fate would have it, my last match was a World Cup final.It wasn't the result we wanted, but I'm leaving with my head held high, knowing that this team gave it their all right up to the very last second.