Ellyes Skhiri retires from international football after eight years with Tunisia

Ellyes Skhiri has announced his retirement from international football, ending an eight-year career with Tunisia.

The FC Koln midfielder confirmed the decision on Thursday, allowing him to focus fully on his Bundesliga commitments.

“For me, the time has now come to announce the end of my international career,” Skhiri wrote on social media. He said wearing Tunisia’s shirt and representing his homeland had filled him with pride and had been “a great honour.”

Skhiri’s final major tournament came at the 2026 World Cup, where he captained Tunisia. Their campaign ended in the group stage after defeats to Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands.

Since making his Tunisia debut in March 2018, the defensive midfielder has collected 86 caps and scored four goals. He played at three World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, with Tunisia’s fourth-place finish at AFCON 2019 standing as his best result.

“My commitment, dedication and respect for our national team remained unbroken throughout all these years,” Skhiri said, while also acknowledging the setbacks he encountered during his international career.

His retirement means Koln will have Skhiri available during future international windows, reducing travel demands and giving him more time to recover and prepare for club matches.