Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Legendary Argentina women’s national football team goalkeeper Vanina Correa retired from the Albiceleste on Wednesday. The historic goalie had announced that the Albiceleste’s back-to-back friendlies against Costa Rica were going to be her last after 21 years representing Argentina.
“I’ve represented the national team since I was 16, always feeling the same pride and responsibility of wearing my nation’s colors,” said Correa after the match. “From that day until today, I’ve enjoyed defending this jersey.”
Correa, aged 40, debuted with the national team on April 9, 2003, in Argentina’s 3-0 victory against Paraguay at the South American Women’s Football Championship in Salta. She went on to become the only player to feature in every World Cup Argentina qualified for. Correa was also part of the team that won the 2006 South American Championship and the silver medal in the 2019 Panamerican Games.
Perhaps her greatest performance with the national team was during the 2019 World Cup, when Argentina faced England in the group stages. She made several key saves, including a penalty, earning a player of the match award and allowing the Albiceleste to reach the last group stage match with chances of making it into the next round.
In 2010, after reaching third place in the Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors, she paused her career to focus on life away from football. In 2014, she gave birth to fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. She made a return to the sport and the national team in 2017, going on to represent Argentina 67 times in total.
Two wins among criticism and protest
The Albiceleste played two friendlies against Costa Rica in Buenos Aires on Friday and Monday, winning both games by 2-0 with goals by Rocío Bueno and Estefanía Palomar on the opener, while Maricel Pereyra and Yamila Rodríguez scored on the last one.
However, the series was overshadowed after four players decided to step down from the team days before the games, citing low investment and a lack of answers from authorities.
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