Germany captain Philipp Lahm has quit international soccer just days after leading his side to World Cup victory in Brazil.

“It is the right time for me. I have totally enjoyed my time with the national team,” the 30-year-old was quoted as saying this morning.

The news was confirmed by the German soccer federation (DFB) website (www.dfb.de).

DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach said: "Philipp called me this morning and personally told me the news. Very quickly into the conversation I realised that it was futile to try to change his mind.

“He was not only an outstanding player in his 10 years with the national team but always a perfect role model. I thanked him for all that he has done for the DFB.”

Lahm, who picked up the last of his 113 caps in the 1-0 World Cup final victory over Argentina on Sunday, will continue playing for club side Bayern Munich.

“There is hardly a better farewell than to be a world champion at the peak of your career,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said of Lahm’s resignation on the club website.

“But for the national team, it will not be easy to replace Lahm as a player, captain and a man.”