Iniesta retires from Spain duty

Andres Iniesta's time with La Furia Roja is over.

Following Spain's shocking World Cup elimination to Russia on Sunday, the venerated 34-year-old midfielder confirmed he is retiring from international football.

"It's true that it is my last match with the national team. On a personal level it's the end of a magnificent phase," he said. "Overall, I think it's the saddest day of my career. ...

"Sometimes the finals aren't how you dream them."

Iniesta scored the most important goal in Spain's footballing history, driving a 116th-minute strike past Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg in the 2010 final to hand his country its first and only World Cup trophy.

In his last kick for Spain, he scored the first penalty of the shootout in Sunday's loss to Russia.

Despite stepping down from the international side after 131 caps, Iniesta said he has faith in the crop of names Spain has to choose from going forward.

"There's a relay, there are players. The most important thing is to find the way to success again," Iniesta said. "It's not easy, it is more complicated than it seems, but the national team will continue."

After nearly two decades with Barcelona, Iniesta signed a three-year deal with Japanese club Vissel Kobe just prior to the World Cup.