France's Franck Ribery retires from international play
Franck Ribery has retired from playing internationally with France, his club team Bayern Munich announced on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old said he wants to focus on his family and "fully concentrate on (his) work at Bayern Munich," as well as open up room on the national team for talented young players.
“I am stopping,” Ribery told German magazine Kicker. “I realized that this moment has come."
Ribery missed the 2014 World Cup because of a back injury. The midfielder was named the UEFA Player of the Year in 2012-13.
In 2013-14, Ribery scored 20 goals and added 17 assists across all competitions, including three goals in five World Cup qualifying games with France.
More: Julian Green keeps perspective, eyes Bayern breakthrough
The news comes almost a month after Germany's Philipp Lahm, who was a captain for the 2014 World Cup champions, announced that he is retiring from the national team.
- Molly Geary
