TIM Cahill has retired from international football, bringing to an end a truly stunning career in the green and gold for Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Cahill, 38, confirmed on social media his appearance off the bench against Peru at his fourth World Cup was his last in the green and gold.

“Today’s the day that I’m officially hanging up my boots on my international career with the Socceroos,” he wrote.

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“No words can describe what it has meant to represent my country.

“Massive thank you to everyone for the support throughout all my years wearing the Australian badge.”

Today’s the day that I’m officially hanging up my boots on my international career with the Socceroos.

No words can describe what it has meant to represent my country. Massive thank you to everyone for the support throughout all my years wearing the Australian badge. pic.twitter.com/gqnM1HWA7S — TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) July 17, 2018

The former Everton star made history as one of only two Australians — alongside Mark Milligan — to appear at four consecutive World Cups, having already joined a select group of players to have scored at three.





He retires with an Australian-record haul of 50 international goals from his 107 caps.

Cahill has not announced any decisions on his club career, having played with Melbourne City and English Championship side Millwall in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Tim Cahill in action against Peru at the World Cup. Source: AAP

Teammates speak in awe of Cahill’s ultra-professional attitude and dressing-room influence, and he will leave behind a big hole as new coach Graham Arnold takes up the reins and moves the team forward into a new era without their legendary talisman.

Many of Cahill’s goals came at moments when Australia needed them the most. His double against Japan at Kaiserslautern in 2006 made him the first Australian player to score at the World Cup, transforming him into a national icon in a flash.

He also scored at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups - producing arguably the goal of the tournament at the latter with his rasping volley against the Netherlands to pull them level at 1-1.

Tim Cahill scoring his memorable goal against the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup. Source: Supplied

Cahill backed that effort up again the following year at the Asian Cup with both goals in Australia’s 2-0 quarter-final win over China in Brisbane - the first a spectacular overhead bicycle kick, the second a trademark header. And while his influence waned over the ensuing years, he produced the goods again as the Socceroos battled to qualify for Russia.

With Australia 1-0 down in their play-off against Syria, Cahill struck twice - once in regulation time, once in extra time - to put them on course for the two- legged battle against Honduras from which they emerged victorious.

— with AAP