Dutch football star Lieke Martens announced her retirement from the national squad after a successful career that spanned over a decade. Martens, who first joined the Oranje team in 2011, expressed that her final games with the national team will be during two European qualifiers against Finland on May 31 and June 4.
In a statement shared on social media, Martens conveyed her emotions about leaving the team, mentioning that bidding farewell brought her much sadness. Throughout her time playing internationally, Martens participated in 158 matches and played a crucial role in the Dutch women’s team’s success under past manager Sarina Wiegman, who currently coaches the England team.
One of Martens’ significant achievements was winning the European title in 2017, where she contributed three goals in six matches held in the Netherlands. Her exceptional performance at the tournament earned her the Player of the Tournament award. Additionally, Martens and her team secured second place in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, following the United States.
At the club level, Martens joined Barcelona in 2017 before transferring to Paris Saint-Germain in 2022. National coach Andries Jonker expressed his understanding of Martens’ retirement decision, highlighting her desire to give others an opportunity to shine in the Dutch national team and prepare for the upcoming European Women’s Championship in 2025.
