Goalkeeper Keylor Navas announced his retirement from the Costa Rica national team after playing over 100 international matches and three World Cups, thanking his teammates and fans for their support throughout his career.

"It's a bittersweet feeling, difficult to assimilate. This stage of my life with the national team has come to an end," said the former Real Madrid and PSG goalkeeper in a video posted on his social media.

Navas, 37, retires from the Costa Rica national team just days before the start of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the Copa América. "This chapter of my life, full of challenges, defeats, and victories, comes to an end. I leave with a heart full of gratitude and with my eyes looking forward, always carrying the name of our beloved Costa Rica, a small country in territory but big in heart," he expressed.

The goalkeeper, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid who recently finished his contract with French club PSG, said he has fulfilled many dreams he had as a child and achieved them "by persevering, fighting with love and determination." "More than 16 years ago, God gave me the opportunity to defend Costa Rica's goal for the first time, a day I will never forget. Since then, every moment with the national team has been a dream come true," Navas said.

Considered by many as the greatest footballer in Costa Rica's history, Navas played in the World Cups of Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022, amassing 114 matches with the national team.

Navas was a key player in Costa Rica reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The team topped their group by defeating Italy (1-0), Uruguay (3-1), and drawing 0-0 with England. In the round of 16, Costa Rica drew 1-1 with Greece but advanced on penalties to the quarterfinals, where they faced the Netherlands and were eliminated on penalties after a 0-0 draw in a standout performance by Navas.

"I feel incredibly fortunate and privileged," the goalkeeper said before thanking all his coaches, teammates, family, and fans. Navas emphasized that he takes with him "joys and unforgettable memories" and highlighted that the national team managed to "raise the name of Costa Rica to the highest level" against "the best players in the world."

Last March, following the FIFA matches that month, Navas left his future with the national team uncertain, as he did not answer journalists' questions about his continuity with the national team. The goalkeeper, whose next club for the upcoming season is still unknown, was among the plans of Costa Rica's coach, Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, for the start of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and for next month's Copa América.

"We are counting on him and hope he can come to the country after his commitments with Paris. He has two league matches left and the cup final. For us, it is essential that he can join us for the qualifiers and the Copa América," said Claudio Vivas, the sporting director of the Costa Rican Football Federation, on May 13.