World Cup-winning France defender Raphael Varane announces retirement from international football

World Cup-winning defender Raphael Varane has announced his retirement from international duty with France to focus on his career with Manchester United. Varane's international career spanned a decade, and while he will be missed by Deschamps, France is fortunate to have a number of emerging central defensive talents.

Varane was a key starter for Les Bleus as they won the World Cup in 2018 and helped Didier Deschamps guide his team to the 2022 showpiece in Qatar. It has now been revealed that his last international match was France's thrilling defeat in the final against Argentina in December.

Varane began his international career almost ten years ago, on March 22, 2013, when France defeated Georgia in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. At the time, he was still a teenager, but he had established himself as a regular starter for Real Madrid.

He quickly



established himself as a regular starter for Les Bleus, but a thigh injury prevented him from competing in the 2016 European Championships. As a result, he was unable to participate in the host nation's run to the final, where they were defeated by Portugal.

Varane became only the fourth player in history to win both the World Cup and the Champions League in the same year, joining Christian Karembeu (in 1998), Roberto Carlos (in 2002), and Sami Khedira (in 2004). Surprisingly, all four players, including Varane, were playing for Real Madrid at the time of their World Cup victory.

Varane joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in a £34 million deal 18 months ago, but he had a difficult first season at Old Trafford due to injuries and a change in management. However, the arrival of Erik ten Hag has benefited Varane, and he has begun to form an excellent partnership with Lisandro Martinez.