The Chelsea player came out of retirement, alongside Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram, during the World Cup qualifiers and played a pivotal role in France's campaign in Germany.

"I believe that I will stop, it is a difficult decision to take, but for me it is the best," Makelele told French television.

"There is a generation that comes behind, the young people arrive with such a motivation that they can take over behind us."

Makelele played 50 games for the French national team but never won a trophy for Les Bleus.