Lahm retires from international football

Germany's World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm has retired from international football at the age of 30.

Lahm made 113 appearances for his country and lifted the World Cup on Sunday after Mario Gotze's extra-time goal secured a 1-0 win over Argentina in Rio.

It was the Bayern Munich man's third appearance at the global showpiece and he has chosen to end his Germany career on the highest of highs.

"Philipp Lahm has ended his career with the German national football team," read a statement on the DFB's official website.

"The captain of the world champions has today informed DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach in a phone call that he is retiring after serving 113 international matches."

Lahm made his international debut in a 2-1 win over over Croatia in February 2004 before going on to feature at three European Championships and three World Cups – scoring five times for his country.

Niersbach paid tribute to Lahm in both a professional and personal sense.

"Philipp has telephoned this morning and informed me personally about this step," he said.

"Having been in the conversation I very quickly realised that it is futile to want him to reverse his decision.

"He was not only an outstanding player, but always a role model in the 10 years with the national team. I thanked him for all that he has done for the DFB."

Having secured his first piece of silverware with Germany, Lahm will now focus solely on his club career with Bayern.

The full-back, who has also been deployed in midfield for club and country over the past season, has won a host of trophies at the Allianz Arena since coming through the club's youth system.

He agreed a new deal with Bayern in June that will keep him under contract with the German champions until 2018.