Almost eight years to the day since scoring the only goal of Spain's sole World Cup final victory, Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from the national team.
after La Roja's shock defeat to Russia on penalties, a last-16 tie in which Iniesta came off the bench but failed to push through the hosts stubborn defence.
"It is true that it was my last match with the national team," he announced post-match. "On an individual level, a wonderful moment is over.
"Sometimes the ending is not as you dreamt it.
"I leave with a sour taste, like everyone else, it is a difficult moment that we have lived on other occasions.
"Criticism or no criticism doesn't matter, we were doomed because we didn't know how to take another step, to be up to the circumstances.
"On an individual level it wasn't the best farewell, but football and life has those moments."
Iniesta opened up on his emotions at saying farewell to the national team, only weeks after doing the same to club side Barcelona ahead of a move to Japan.
"I feel relief," the veteran noted regarding the future of Spain's national team.
"The players are there, the important thing is to find a way to success.
"It isn't easy, it is more complicated than it seems, but the national team will go on and there are players of the right level.
"It would be advantageous to talk about [Julen] Lopetegui's dismissal as fundamental. Everything has its importance, but in the end those who had the ball were us and we were the ones who stayed."