As he announced his retirement from international football, World Cup winner Sergio Ramos fired a parting shot at Luis de la Fuente, the manager of Spain.

Ramos, 36, earned a record 180 caps for his nation, helping La Roja win the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 in addition to the 2010 World Cup victory.

But the Paris Saint-Germain defender has decided to call it quits after going without a match since March 2021, capping a glittering international career.

"The time has come to say goodbye to the national team," he wrote in a post on Instagram.

"This morning I received the call from the current coach who told me that he doesn't count and that he won't count on me, regardless of the level I can show or how I continue my sporting career.

"With great regret, it is the end of a journey that I had hoped would be longer and that would end with a better taste in the mouth at the height of all the successes we have achieved."

"Humbly, I think that career deserved to end because of a personal decision or because my performance was not up to what our national team deserves, but not because of age or other reasons that, without having heard them, I have felt."

de la Fuente replaced Luis Enrique as Spain manager last December

Ramos continued: "Being young or less young is not a virtue or a defect, it is only a temporary trait that is not necessarily related to performance or ability.

"I look with admiration and envy at [Luka] Modric, [Lionel] Messi, Pepe.

"Unfortunately, it won't be like that for me, because football is not always fair and football is never just football.

"Through it all, I take it with this sadness that I want to share with you, but also with my head very high and very grateful for all these years and for all your support.

"I take back indelible memories, all the titles we have fought and celebrated all together and the tremendous pride.

"All of you have made me happy. I will continue to cheer on my country from home with the thrill of the privileged who has been able to proudly represent it 180 times.

"Heartfelt thanks to everyone who always believed in me!"