Juan Fernando Quintero retires from Colombia national team

Midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero has announced his retirement from the Colombia national football team. The 33-year-old decision was made in July following the team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16, where Colombia lost to Switzerland in a penalty shootout.

Quintero stated that the frustration of the World Cup exit prompted him to communicate his decision to coach Néstor Lorenzo. He expressed a desire to step aside to allow for a generational shift, noting, “I felt that my moment had arrived... it is good to give an opportunity so that others can arrive and assume.”

Quintero’s international career spanned 15 years and included three World Cups. During the most recent tournament, he served as a substitute for captain James Rodríguez. His departure leaves coach Lorenzo to manage a squad with an average age approaching thirty, necessitating a period of team renewal.