The 31-year-old has become increasingly frustrated at the amount of injuries he had suffered over the past few years and intends to focus on his career with Milan.

"I won't go to the national team anymore. My adventure ends here. I'm very sorry," Nesta was quoted as saying by the club's official website.

"I always cared about the importance of the national team shirt and the atmosphere in the national team. Playing with the Azzurri has been one of the most satisfying things of my life. But I can't do it anymore."

Nesta's decision to retire from international football came 12 days after skipper Francesco Totti brought down the curtain on a luckless Italy career.

"Perhaps I could have gone on longer, but my greatest regret is the last World Cup as it wasn’t easy to watch my teammates triumph while I was sidelined with an injury," Nesta added.

The former Lazio defender missed the majority of Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph after sustaining a groin injury against Czech Republic in the final group stage game.