Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 32, retires from international football with Gabon

Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his retirement from international football.

The 32-year-old played 72 times for Gabon and is their all-time leading scorer with 30 goals. 

Gabon’s Football Federation said it received a letter from Aubameyang on Tuesday informing it of his decision.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his retirement from international football

‘After 13 years of pride in representing my country, I announce that I am ending my international career,’ the 32-year-old wrote in an open letter to Gabon fans.

‘I would like to thank the Gabonese people and all those who have supported me in the good like the bad times.

‘I will keep a lot of good memories like the day I made my debut at romnisports, or the day I came back from Nigeria with the African Ballon d’Or.

‘I would also like to thank all my coaches, staff and the players that I have come across during this career.

The 32-year-old striker has scored 11 goals in just 16 appearances for Barcelona in LaLiga

‘Finally, I thank my father who gave me the desire to do like him, hoping to have made him proud by wearing our colours.’

With Aubameyang at the heart of the team, Gabon reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 African Cup of Nations to equal their best performance in international competitions.

Aubameyang’s last tournament with Gabon was a bitter disappointment, though, when he contracted Covid at the start of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and had to withdraw from the tournament without playing a game after being diagnosed with heart lesions.

He announced his decision to retire from internationals two weeks before Gabon start their qualifying campaign for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.