World Cup 2018: 4 Players who Should Retire from International Football

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is starting to heat up in Russia and we are witnessing many of the big countries going out a lot earlier than expected.

And with all of that happening it is becoming one of the most open tournaments to date.

We're not even halfway through the last 16 yet and have already said goodbye to the world champions Germany, the kings of Europe Portugal and Lionel Messi's Argentina.

These early exits might just be the last World Cup we will ever see some of the big names take centre stage for their country.

Let's take a look at four players who SHOULD retire from international football after this summer's World Cup...

#4 Rafael Marquez

A veteran for Mexico

Rafael Marquez has been a true flag bearer for Mexico football over the last 20 years or so.

The 39 year old is experiencing his fifth FIFA World Cup after his debut at the 2002 tournament that took place in Japan and South Korea.

The furthest Marquez has ever taken Mexico at the finals of a World Cup is the last 16 and has always missed out on making the quarter-finals.

Mexico look to be one short from the quarter-finals yet again when they face tournament favourites Brazil on Monday at Samara Arena.

And this World Cup should be Marquez's last ever appearance at the global event.

The national team's captain has struggled to make the starting line-up and now starts from the bench.

There are just simply players with higher quality than Marquez these days and despite everything he has done to put Mexico football on the map, it is time to hang up his boots.

A place in the quarter-finals would certainly be a very nice gift for Marquez's retirement party.

#3 Mario Gomez

Mario Gomez

Mario Gomez has been a disappointment recently when representing Germany at a major tournament.

The 32-year-old has just not shined in the big games especially in moments when his nation needs him most.

This summer's tournament has seen Gomez leave Russia with no World Cup finals goals after three appearances.

Gomez was never called up to the 2014 squad that would go onto win the tournament in Brazil and looking back, it was the right call by manager Joachim Lowe.

In the matches where Germany struggled against Mexico, Sweden and South Korea at the group stages, Gomez was nowhere to be seen.

That classifies a player when it comes to the biggest competition in football, only the best perform at a world stage.

For Gomez, he flies home with a huge possibility over him that he'll never represent Germany at a World Cup ever again.

#2 Manuel Neuer

It may come as a shock to some to see Manuel Neuer on this list but even for a world class goalkeeper like Neuer - good things must come to an end.

Well, at international level anyway.

Neuer was one of Germany's World Cup heroes four years ago when not only did he get his hands on the most prolific trophy of the beautiful game, but he was also rewarded with the golden glove award for being best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Four years on, Neuer would have wished he had a device to take him back through time.

Neuer should not be highly blamed for his team's costly errors in Russia but this could be the right time for him to hang up his gloves for Germany.

The 32-year-old had an embarrassing moment in the final group stage game against South Korea when he lost possession of the ball in Korea's half only to have the ball cleared and scored comfortably by Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min.

When you look at Neuer's Germany career, winning the World Cup alone is a magnificent achievement. A trophy Oliver Kahn missed out on in 2002.

But when you look at the likes of Barcelona's Marc-André ter Stegen and Paris Saint Germain's Kevin Trapp looking impressive in between the sticks for their clubs, it is just a matter of time until Neuer is replaced as Germany's number one goalkeeper.

#1 Lionel Messi

Messi to retire for a second time?

Now this is something that has happened before for Lionel Messi.

After Argentina were runners-up for the second consecutive year to Chile at Copa America 2016, Messi announced retiring from the national side.

This followed after picking up a World Cup runners-up medal in 2014 and two Copa America runner-up medals in the summer of 2015 and 2016.

Three frustrating years for arguably the best player in the world.

But the retirement spell didn't last long and back in the famous white and blue strip Messi was wearing once more.

This summer has been another painful experience for his international career and now it could be Messi's time to leave behind his country again.

Just hours after Argentina's departure, no thanks to France, Messi's club and country teammate, Javier Mascherano, announced his retirement from representing the white and sky blues.

Mascherano could be the first of many to say goodbye to their homeland in football.

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