Ammon News - Australia striker Mitch Duke has announced his retirement from international soccer, bringing the curtain down on ​a career spanning more than a decade in ‌which he won 50 caps for the Socceroos.

The 35-year-old represented Australia in 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring a ​headed goal against Tunisia that secured the country's ​first World Cup victory in 12 years.

Duke also ⁠played a key role in helping Australia's qualification ​campaign for the 2026 World Cup, scoring the winner against ​Saudi Arabia in the qualifiers last year. However, he missed out on the final squad selection for the tournament in North ​America.

"After a lot of reflection, the time has ​come for me to officially announce my retirement from international football," ‌Duke ⁠said in a statement on Saturday.

"As a kid growing up in Australia, I dreamed of wearing the green and gold just once. To have gone on ​to represent ​my country ⁠50 times is a dream come true 50 times over, and a privilege I ​never took for granted.

"While I will cherish ​every ⁠memory, scoring for Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup remains the absolute highlight of my career. It ⁠has ​been the greatest honour of ​my life to pull on the Socceroos jersey and represent our nation."

Reuters