BARCELONA: Xavi Hernandez, Spain’s leading playmaker in their run of three major titles, retired from international duty on Tuesday after a disappointing World Cup in Brazil in which La Roja failed to get past the first round.

Flanked by fellow Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, Xavi was the key component of Spain’s tiki-taka passing style during their unprecedented run of winning the World Cup in 2010 and two European championships in 2008 and 2012.

“I have taken the decision to leave the selection,” the 34-year-old Xavi told a news conference. “I think my time there has finished.

“I’m grateful for all those years. It has been a fantastic time. I’m not 20 anymore, but I still have the motivation of a kid.”

Xavi was voted the best player of the 2008 European championship. In that final he made the critical pass to Fernando Torres to score the winning goal in their 1-0 win over Germany.

“It has been a marvellous time for me, and I’m proud of being here so many years and for all the victories,” said Xavi. “I wish [the rest of the team] the best. From now on I will be another fan of the national team.”

The player revealed that he had planned to leave the national side after Spain’s Euro 2012 triumph in Ukraine, but coach Vicente del Bosque convinced him to stay.

“He insisted I stay for Brazil and Brazil was disappointing for everyone collectively and for me also individually,” he said.

“The fact that I did not take part in the decisive game against Chile was a personal disappointment,” said Xavi of the match Spain lost 2-0 in June, ensuring their exit from the World Cup in the group stage.

Xavi only played in the first game of Spain’s World Cup campaign in Brazil, a humiliating 5-1 loss to the Netherlands, an unfortunate end to his 133rd game for his country.

Spain’s coaching staff agreed that his time with the national side “has finished”, he said. “We have lost a one-of-a-kind player,” said Del Bosque. “He has been the man who was key to our style of play that has brought us so much success. We will miss him both on and off the pitch.”

Xavi said he would stay with Barcelona, however, after being persuaded to ditch plans to leave the club.

He said that he had come close to leaving Barcelona after former coach Gerardo Martino overlooked him in the final game of last season when Barcelona lost the La Liga title to Atletico Madrid.

The arrival of former player Luis Enrique to replace Martino played a part in Xavi staying.

Published in Dawn, Aug 6th, 2014