Gonzalo Higuain retires from Argentina’s national team

Argentina's forward Gonzalo Higuain reacts during a 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Cordoba, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)

LONDON — Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, citing family reasons.

The 31-year-old Higuain scored 31 goals in 75 international appearances for Argentina, with his last match a 2-1 win over Nigeria in the World Cup last June.

Higuain told Fox Sports: "My time with Argentina is over. Thinking things through in depth, my time is up. To the delight of many, now I will only look at it from the outside. I have spoken to (manager Lionel) Scaloni and told him my point of view. I’ve made the decision because I want to enjoy my family, I want to spend time with my daughter, and at the same time, I feel that I gave my country everything I could."

Higuain, who has scored three goals in 10 appearances since joining Chelsea on loan from Juventus in January, added: "I’m fully focused on my commitment to Chelsea. The Premier League is amazing and I really want to enjoy it. It’s very competitive indeed."

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