Diego Simonet Announces Retirement from the Argentine National Team
After 20 years with the Argentine national handball team, Diego “Chino” Simonet has officially announced his retirement from Los Gladiadores. The Montpellier playmaker revealed the decision during the Four Nations tournament.
“I decided it was time to end this stage. My injury is a sign, and I didn’t want to take a place from someone who can continue. My priority now is my family,” Simonet told TyC Sports.
Simonet had originally planned to retire after the Paris 2024 Olympics, but remained at the request of the new coaching staff. His final match for Argentina was the recent game against Brazil.
The 35-year-old leaves behind a historic legacy:
146 matches and 453 goals for Argentina
3 Olympic appearances (2012, 2020, 2024)
Gold medals at Guadalajara 2011, Lima 2019 and Santiago 2023
Best-ever World Championship finish (11th in Egypt 2021)
The Argentine Handball Confederation will organize a special tribute, with a farewell match also expected.
Simonet intends to continue at Montpellier, where the club has also offered him a future role off the court. He did not rule out one final return to play alongside his brother Sebastián someday.
