The Frenchman Franck Ribery has announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect.

The 31-year-old, who missed the recent 2014 FIFA World Cup with a lower back injury. He made his international debut in 2006 against Mexico in a World Cup warm up match, since then he has won 81 caps and scored 16 goals for Les Bleus.

The Bayern Munich attacker said in an interview with the German magazine Kicker: ”I want to focus on my family and concentrate on my work at Bayern Munich and make way in the national team for the many young and exciting players.”

Ribery joined the Bavarians from his native Marseille in 2007, scoring 96 goals in 276 appearances and has won four Bundesliga titles and one Champions League.