Cape Town: Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba announced his international retirement on Friday after scoring 61 goals in 103 appearances for his country.

“It is with much sadness that I have decided to retire from international football,” the 36-year-old Chelsea star said on his website.

It ended a run of 12 years in the national side for the Chelsea forward which included three World Cup finals appearances and twice finishing runners-up at the African Nations Cup.