Buenos Aires, 1 August 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Uruguay record international and long-time Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin is ending his long career after two decades.

Godin, 37, made the announcement after the season finale in Argentina where his club Velez Sarsfield lost 1-0 against Huracan on Sunday.

He spoke of "a career full of achievements and defeats" on Argentine TV which said he would return to his home country to spend more time with his family.

Godin played for Atletico 2010-2019, winning La Liga in 2014 and the Europa League 2012 and 2018, but also losing Champions League finals 2014 and 2016 in dramatic fashion against crosstown rivals Real Madrid.

He named the nine years at Atletico "the most important part of my career and my life."

Godin started his career 2003 at Cerro in his home country and came to Spain in the form of Villarreal in 2007 from Nacional Montevideo. After leaving Atletico he played in Italy at Inter Milan and Cagliari before joining Velez last year after a brief Brazilian stint at Atletico Mineiro.

He won a record 161 Uruguay caps, reaching the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and winning the Copa America in 2011.

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