There have been a number of players to have quit their national team.
The news that FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi has retired from international football is just the latest in a long list of players to have hung their boots up for their national team in 2014.
Here are the best of the bunch.
7. Giorgos Karagounis, Greece
The Fulham midfielder is perhaps not the most glamourous name on the list, but having played a key part in his country winning Euro 2004 the 37-year-old deserves his place.
Although it wasn’t pretty, the Greeks shocked everyone a decade ago when their defensive football saw them lift a major international trophy for the first time in their history.
6. Steven Gerrard, England
Although never really lived up to the hype of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, the Liverpool captain has certainly been one of the best midfielders in world football over the past 10 years.
Even aged 34-years-old Gerrard will be greatly missed for the Three Lions and could well enjoy more years of success at club level.
5. Ashley Cole, England
Gerrard’s former international teammate now and a left-back who is the only English player who can genuinely be described as world-class in the past few years.
Cole’s impressive form saw him named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 2004, but after being omitted from Roy Hodgson’s squad for the 2014 World Cup the 33-year-old decided to call it a day.
4. Miroslav Klose, Germany
Aged 36-years-old Joachim Low selected Klose in his World Cup squad with the Lazio striker going onto play and score in his fourth consecutive tournament.
Not only that but the German is now the highest scoring World Cup player of all time with 16 strikes, as he helped his nation win the competition for the first time since 1990.
3. David Villa, Spain
The nation’s all-time top-scorer peaked at a time when the Spanish were dominating the international game and then bowed out following the most recent World Cup.
During that time Villa helped his team win two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.
2. Philipp Lahm, Germany
Despite still only being 30-years-old the Bayern Munich full-back decided winning the World Cup in 2014 would be his final action for the country.
Lahm is considered among the best players ever to grace the game and at still such a relatively young age could go onto win much more silverware.
1. Xavi, Spain
Finally it’s the most recent retiree and a midfield ace who has dominated the game for club and country over the past decade with his slick passing and technique.
Xavi has been the heartbeat for both Barca and the Spanish and has won every trophy possible with both teams.
SEE MORE: FIFA 2015 Player Ratings Revealed.