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Armenian football star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has announced his retirement from the Armenian national football team.

“Dear Friends, I remember when I first put on my National Team jersey, this was in a friendly against Panama, and my first goal for my nation, in a World Cup qualifier against Estonia. I wanted to win every step of my career, no matter how difficult that would be,” Mkhitaryan said in a statement on Thursday.

“It was an honor to play for my nation for the past 15 years and even more so of an honor to captain it for the last 6 years. After 95 international caps, hard work, passion and unprecedented ups and downs along the journey representing my country on the field, I have taken the decision to retire from my international career with the Armenian National Team.

“I came to this decision after my last game against Germany in November. I think it is the right time. I’ve given everything I can possibly give to my National Team. For the coming years I will therefore be fully focused on my club career.

"My football nest was woven in Armenia, my homeland, and I will forever be grateful to every single person who supported me, who coached me, who I played with and who contributed to my growth as a footballer and as a person. Good luck to my National Team!” reads the statement.