One of Ivory Coast's senior players has called time on his international career a month after helping lead his nation to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title.
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This past weekend, winger Max Gradel announced that he will be retiring from international duty after over a decade playing for the west African giants.
Prior to facing Benin on Saturday, the 36-year-old confirmed that the friendly would be his last for the three-time African champions.
Around 12 years after opening his account for the Ivorians, Gradel scored the first equaliser in their latest 2-2 draw as he made it 18 goals in 111 appearances for his nation, as per Transfermarkt.
The former Bournemouth attacker was part of the 2015 Ivory Coast squad which held the continental title aloft, before being the oldest member in Emerse Fae’s team that won the most recent AFCON on home soil.
Despite his age, the veteran winger was an important figure in their eventual crowning as champions, having started all their knockout phase matches during their showpiece earlier this year.
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During the match against Benin, which is also the nation he made his debut against, the players gave him a guard of honour as he was substituted.
Max Gradel fait ses adieux aux éléphants de Côte d’Ivoire. #CIVBEN pic.twitter.com/vSSdHcSMl5
— AFRICAFOOTUNITED.com (@africafootutd) March 23, 2024
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