Bastian Schweinsteiger: Germany captain retires from international duty

Schweinsteiger has scored 24 goals in 120 international appearances

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger has announced his retirement from international football.

The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder was part of the squad that won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He retires as Germany's fourth most-capped player of all time on 120 - behind Lothar Matthaus (150), Miroslav Klose (137) and Lukas Podolski (129).

"I had the opportunity to experience moments that have been indescribably beautiful and successful," he said.

Schweinsteiger made his international debut in 2004 and holds the German record for European Championship appearances, having played 18 times at the tournament.

The record was broken when he was brought on as a substitute in Germany's 1-0 group-stage win over Northern Ireland, surpassing Philipp Lahm's total of 14, before Joachim Low's side went out in the semi-finals to France.

"I desperately wanted to win that title that we haven't been able to bring to Germany since 1996," said the former Bayern Munich player, who could leave Manchester United this summer.

"It was not to be, and I have to accept it.

"With the victory of the World Cup in 2014, we achieved something historically and emotionally that I will not be able to repeat in my career.

"Therefore it is right and sensible to stop and to wish the team all the best for qualification and the World Cup in 2018."