TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico (AP) -- Veteran Mexico striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco pulled down the curtain on his international career on Wednesday in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Canada.
Striker Blanco was carried off by his teammates as he waved goodbye to the 25,000 fans after his final game.
Blanco played the last seven minutes of the match and was later carried off by his teammates as he waved goodbye to the 25,000 fans gathered at Victor Manuel Reyna stadium.
"It was my own decision, I've always said that you have to retire on time, and I'm leaving with the love from the fans," Blanco said. "I made this decision and I'm not changing it for anything on the world."
Blanco, considered one of Mexico's greatest players, told the team of his decision to quit international football late Tuesday.
The 35-year old Blanco has been used as a substitute by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has preferred 19-year-old Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela as his starting strikers in recent matches.
On Wednesday, it looked liked Blanco was not going to play at all.
"I hope I did not disrespected him, I did what was best for the team, which was winning three points. With a different score, maybe he would have played more," Eriksson said.
Blanco has scored 34 goals for Mexico since his debut in 1995 against Uruguay.
He played in two World Cups, in 1998 and 2002, and scored in each. He helped Mexico win CONCACAF Gold Cups in 1996 and 1998 and beat Brazil for the 1999 Confederations Cup.
"I will remember all those moments ... two World Cups, the Confederations Cup, when I injured my knee ... I left everything on the field and I would like to have another game at Estadio Azteca to say goodbye, with that, I will leave very happy," added Blanco.
The Mexican league's Most Valuable Player in 2004 and 2005, Blanco was been adored by Mexican fans, who have also been amused by his clashes with coaches, referees and opponents.
Blanco plays for the Chicago Fire, who pay him $2.7 million (euro1.9 million), the second highest salary in Major League Soccer after David Beckham.
"There is still more from me, I want to play a few more years in the U.S. and as you know, I want to come back to play six months with America."
Clint Dempsey scored his fourth goal in four games as the United States virtually assured themselves of making next year's CONCACAF regional finals with a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying Wednesday.
Michael Bradley and Brian Ching also scored to earn the United States a fifth straight win and consolidate their place atop Group One in the semifinals round of qualifying with nine points, five ahead of Trinidad.http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/09/11/world.mexico.ap/index.html
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