By Daily Sports on October 13, 2017
Veteran Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said on Thursday he will step down from international duty after the 2018 World Cup.
The versatile Barcelona star, who turns 34 next June, is Argentina's second most-capped player with 139 appearances for his country and played in the 2014 World Cup final defeat to Germany.
He is also a four-time runner-up in the Copa America -- finishing on the losing side in 2004, 2007, 2015 and 2016.
"My time in the national team finishes in Russia, I won't go any further," Mascherano told Argentine TV station TyC Sports. "(Coach Jorge) Sampaoli will decide if I should be selected for the World Cup or not."
Mascherano started Tuesday's 3-1 South American qualifying victory in Ecuador that guaranteed Argentina a place at next year's finals in Russia.
He is four caps short of equalling Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti's Argentina record.
He joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2010 and is under contract at the Camp Nou until 2019. © AFP
•Photo shows Javier Mascherano.
Source Daily Sports
Posted October 13, 2017
You may also like...
NWPL Wrap: Sunshine Queens, Rivers Angels Celebrate Wins...
Super Eagles AFCON Qualifiers In Lesotho, Lagos; Onuachu,...
Onuachu Scores Brace Again For Genk
Own Goal Gifts Real Madrid Vital Win At...
Juve fight back to beat Lazio with late...
Nigeria may face Algeria, Ghana or Cote d’Ivoie...
Chelsea’s Maresca says rotation unavoidable
Joshua makes weight for €100m Paul fight
Osimhen, Iwobi pay tributes to Troost-Ekong
Amorim defends his use of midfielder Mainoo
'Always in my mind to start' - Slot on Salah
Man City won't take risk on 'suffering' Rodri's return
Arsenal's Mosquera could be out for at least six weeks
Iran to attend World Cup draw after boycott threat
Alexander-Arnold off injured in comfortable Real Madrid win
A shadow of his imperious self - Van Dijk fights decline
Newcastle want to be 'top club in world' by 2030
Trump and Infantino - too close for comfort?
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,389 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,631 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,565 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,208 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,180 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,094 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,938 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,521 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,659 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,215 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,606 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,080 views)