France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 36.
The Tottenham Hotspur number one captained Les Bleus to World Cup glory in 2018 and also led the team to the final of the 2022 tournament, where they were defeated by Argentina.
Lloris has made a record 145 appearances in France colours, making him his nation's all-time capped men's player after earning his debut against Uruguay in a friendly in 2008.
First wearing the captain's armband in 2010, Lloris kept 63 clean sheets for Les Bleus and also steered his nation to glory in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League campaign.
Following an unsuccessful bid to lead France to back-to-back World Cup crowns, Lloris has now called time on his international career, telling L'Equipe: "There comes a time when you have to know how to pass the hand.
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"I don't want to make it my own, I've always said and repeated that the France team doesn't belong to anyone, and we all have to make sure that's the case, me first."
Lloris has kept the likes of Mike Maignan, Steve Mandanda and Alphonse Areola at bay to retain his position as Didier Deschamps's number one, but he now feels that the former is ready to take on the responsibility of starting for his nation.
"I think that behind, the team is ready to continue, there is also a goalkeeper who is ready," Lloris added. "I prefer to go out being at the top than to wait for a drop in speed, or too much competition. There is also a family choice, I feel the need to spend more time with my wife and my children."
As well as winning the 2018 World Cup and 2020-21 Nations League, Lloris captained France to the final of Euro 2016, where Portugal ran out 1-0 winners over Deschamps's side.
Prior to the 2022 World Cup, Lilian Thuram held the honour of being France's most-capped men's player with 142 appearances - a tally which Lloris passed in Les Bleus' quarter-final win over England.
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The former Lyon man also holds the record for the most World Cup matches played by a goalkeeper with 20 - surpassing Manuel Neuer's 19 at the Qatar tournament.
Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe are reportedly two leading candidates to take the captain's armband from Lloris, as France prepare to meet the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Greece and Gibraltar in Euro 2024 qualifying Group B.
Lloris's Tottenham future is also shrouded in uncertainty, as the Frenchman is only under contract with Antonio Conte's side for another 18 months and has come under criticism for his performances this season.
The veteran shot-stopper has kept just five clean sheets in 17 Premier League games during the 2022-23 campaign, and Spurs are believed to have identified a number of possible successors.
Everton's Jordan Pickford and Brentford's David Raya are both thought to be on Tottenham's radar, as Lloris prepares to bring up his 440th appearance for the Lilywhites in Sunday's North London derby with Arsenal.
Ben Knapton
