After several hints that he would bring down the curtain on his days as an England player following this summer's World Cup finals, Steven Gerrard's decision to call time on his international career has not come as a surprise.
England's early exit from Brazil may have forced Gerrard to reconsider his temptation to end his days as his nation's midfield inspiration and captain, as he would not have wanted to bow out on such a low note, but he has finally decided to hang up his international boots at the age of 34.
With 114 caps to his credit in an international career that has spanned 14 years, the Liverpool skipper is third on the all-time list of England players, with only Peter Shilton and David Beckham ahead of him.
Yet Gerrard's failure to come close to a major championship success with England may lead some to suggest his Three Lions career was somewhat underwhelming.
As the verdicts are passed on Gerrard's England legacy, here is our guide to some of his most memorable performances on the international stage.
England 2-0 Ukraine (May 31, 2000)
The countdown to the 2000 European championship was on for England when coach Kevin Keegan handed a youthful Gerrard his international debut.
Liverpool's rising star made the cut for Keegan's final squad at the Euro 2000 finals, but a disappointing display by England saw them lose their final game against Romania and crash out in the first round. Gerrard made an appearance in the 1-0 win against Germany.
England: Martyn, Southgate, Adams, Campbell, Beckham, Gerrard (Dyer), Scholes (Barmby), McManaman, P. Neville (Barry), Shearer, Fowler.
Germany 1-5 England (Sept. 1, 2001)
This memorable World Cup qualifier in Munich marked the start of Gerrard's England career in earnest, as he produced a powerhouse display in the midfield and Sven-Goran Eriksson's side notched one of their most famous victories in memory.
Gerrard's powerful strike from the edge of the box put England ahead on the stroke of halftime, as he scored his first goal at international level.
England: Seaman, G. Neville, Ferdinand, Campbell, A. Cole, Barmby (McManaman), Scholes (Carragher), Gerrard (Hargreaves), Beckham, Heskey, Owen.
England 3-0 Switzerland (June 17, 2004)
England bounced back in impressive fashion from an opening defeat against France at Euro 2004, as two goals from a youthful Wayne Rooney and a late clincher from Gerrard handed them a comfortable victory.
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This was a time when England dared to believe their golden generation of players were capable of ending an enduring wait for success in a major competition, with Gerrard very much among their list of shining stars.
England: Robinson, Carragher, Ferdinand (Campbell), Terry, A. Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Hargreaves, J. Cole, Rooney (Gerrard), Owen (Crouch).
England 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago (June 15, 2006)
Gerrard's first goal at the World Cup finals arrived in England's opening match of their 2006 campaign, with Peter Crouch's 83rd-minute opener rounded off by Gerrard in the final minutes.
It was hardly a convincing performance from Eriksson's England, but Gerrard's contribution saw him handed man of the match plaudits by many observers.
Robinson, Carragher (Lennon), Terry, Ferdinand, A. Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, J. Cole (Downing), Owen, Crouch.
England 5-1 Croatia (Sept. 9, 2009)
England got their chance to claim revenge against a Croatia side that denied them qualification to the Euro 2008 finals in a crucial World Cup qualifier at Wembley, and they did just that with a rampant victory.
Gerrard scored England's second and fourth goals as they secured their place in another World Cup finals in front of an excited Wembley audience.
Green, Johnson, Terry, Upson, A. Cole, Lennon (Beckham), Barry, Lampard, Gerrard (Milner), Rooney, Heskey (Defoe).
England 2-0 Poland (Oct. 15, 2013)
England's qualification for the World Cup finals was in the balance heading into their final two group matches, and Gerrard led from the front with commanding performances against Montenegro and Poland.
It was fitting that the skipper scored the second goal in this game, as the celebrations began at Wembley to confirm England's place at Brazil 2014. This proved to be Gerrard's final goal at international level.
Hart, Smalling, Baines, Carrick (Lampard), Cahill, Jagielka, Townsend (Milner), Gerrard, Sturridge (Wilshere), Rooney, Welbeck.