FC Barcelona star, Xavi Hernandez, has announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday.The 34-year-old veteran midfielder has retired from Spain after 133 games for La Roja.

"I have made my decision to leave the national team, I feel my time there has ended," Xavi revealed at a press conference.

Xavi made his international debut in 2000 and has played a key role in Spain’s domination of world football between 2008 and 2012. He was a major figure in the squad which won the 2010 World Cup, the first in Spain’s history, as well as the 2008 and 2012 EUROs.

Xavi has won more trophies (25) than any other Spanish player in history and received five Ballon d’Or nominations, finishing third in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Respect to him. best of luck!

Misleading title. Should be "Xavi retires from international Football". But anyways Xavi was one of the best Spanish mids and will be missed. Now it's time for Fabregas to step up internationally.

Thanks quickzy for the tribute.
The heart of Barcelona, midlefielders nightmare, we already miss him. Nobody can open play a team with Xavi in its midlefield, you need to play against him to see what it takes to make him loose a ball.

One game highlights : Against Mourinho Madrid.

Best goals ever :

Skills :

Achievements :

Club :

• 7 Leagues.
• 2 Spanish cups.
• 6 Spanish super cups.
• 3 Champions leagues.
• 2 UEFA super cups.
• 2 World cups of clubs.

National :

• Fifa youth World cup 1999.
• Olympic silver medal 2000.
• Euro 2008.
• World Cup 2010.
• Euro 2012.

Personal : ( Mr Consistent )

World Soccer Player of the Year: 2010
Euro 2008 Player of the Tournament: 2008
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place: 2011
FIFA Ballon d'Or Third place: 2010, 2011
Ballon d'Or Bronze Award: 2009
FIFA World Player of the Year Third place: 2009
Onze de Bronze: 2011
UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2009
UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 2008–09
IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 1999
La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2005
La Liga Player of the Year: 2nd place 2010, 3rd place 2011
La Liga Midfielder of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011.
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010
Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008, 2012
FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
ESM Team of the Year: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12
FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball: 2011
FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball: 2009

Forever in our heart Maestro, the 2nd most influencial player after Crujf. ( I put Messi third at only 27yo )

^Heart of Cataluna : Catalan national team.

Xavi only has one regret in his career - he never got to play with Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.

The Barcelona pass master has called time on his international career with Spain which saw him win the World Cup and two European Championships.

But despite a glittering 16 years at the highest level for club and country, the one black mark for Xavi is he never got to be in a midfield duo with Old Trafford hero Scholes.

Midfield maestros: Xavi and Scholes are widely regarded as two of the greatest midfielders of all time

'When I think about all I have won with Spain and Barcelona and all they great players I have played with - it is impossible for me to have any regrets,' said Xavi.

'Maybe one small regret is that I never got to play with Paul Scholes - but I was never going to leave Barcelona and he was never going to leave Manchester United.'

The Catalan star also paid tribute to his national team-mates despite their group-stage World Cup exit.

He said: 'I was going to retire after we won the European Championship in 2012 - but I don't look back and think I wished I had.

'Of course Brazil was very disappointing for us - but I am always proud to represent Spain. We stick together as a team even when things do not go well.'

Ask SAF or any Barça coach about wich player has the most impact about the league dominance, their answer is very clear, yes they arent scoring 50 goals a year but Football is more than this and to win silverwares, you need to control midlefield with machines of passing with great vision and controlling the game, no secret about this.