San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili believes his days of playing for his country Argentina has come to an end after he suffered an injury that will prevent him from joining the FIBA World Cup of Basketball in Spain later this month.
Speaking to Buenos Aires daily La Nacion as quoted by the Associated Press, the 37-year-old Argentine basketball star said: "Today, I can say for almost certain, 98 percent, that I won't play any more (for Argentina)."
Ginobili has become a fixture in international basketball for Argentina, and has been in the national team longer than the Spurs. He first played for Argentina in 1998 for the FIBA World Championship in Greece, while he first donned the Spurs jersey four years later.
His stellar play helped Argentina shock the world by winning the Olympic gold in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He also led them win the silver medal at the 2002 World Cup in Indianapolis and to a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Ginobili is a four-time champion with the Spurs.
"If I'd played this tournament it would have been the last, that's sure... It's hard and it always will be to retire from this (Argentina) team," said Ginobili.
Ginobili helped the Spurs win its fifth NBA title last June but the Spurs did not grant him permission to play for Argentina at the World Cup due to a stress fracture. The guard admitted that he feels some pain in his knee when he jumps or accelerates on the court.
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