---
title: "Mandzukic calls time on Croatia career"
description: "Croatian World Cup hero and star striker Mario Mandzukic has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 32, the country's national soccer federation said Tuesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "AFP"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/afp/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-08-15-mandzukic-calls-time-on-croatia-career/"
published: "2018-08-15T05:18:51"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 67
---

# Mandzukic calls time on Croatia career

> Croatian World Cup hero and star striker Mario Mandzukic has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 32, the country's national soccer federation said Tuesday.

By AFP · Published 15 August 2018, 07:18 SAST

## Content

"I think the time has come for me now. I gave my best for Croatia and I have contributed to the greatest success in Croatian football," Mandzukic said in a letter circulated by the federation.

The Juventus player said that losing 4-2 to France in the World Cup final to take the runner-up spot had given him "new energy but also made this incredible decision easier". **DM**