England football captain Wayne Rooney will retire from international competition after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The 30-year-old Manchester United forward made the announcement in a press conference Tuesday ahead of the team's first qualifier Sunday in Slovakia.
"Realistically I know myself that Russia will be my last opportunityto do anything with England. Hopefully I can end my time with England on a high," he said via ESPN and the BBC. "I said before the Euros I enjoyed playing in this team, and that's the case still. There were some questions about whether I should stop playing, but I am looking forward to getting back on the pitch."
Rooney has scored 53 goals in 115 international matches and Manager Sam Allardyce confirmed that Rooney would remain the captain.
"I made my mind up before the Euros, whether we did well or not, that I was going to continue," Rooney said. "I've had nothing to think about since then. My mind is made up. . . Russia will be my last tournament."
