For over 15 years, Luciana Aymar has been the heart and soul of Argentina women’s national hockey team. Voted best player in the world eight times, she was instrumental in the two silver and two bronze medals won by ‘Las Leonas’ over the last four editions of the Olympic Games. However, for Rio 2016, the only South American national team to have won an Olympic medal will have to vie for the hitherto unprecedented gold without their main star.

“The idea is to stop playing after the World Cup (on 31 May – 14 June in the Netherlands). It will be a shame not to participate in the first Olympic Games in South America on the pitch but I’m convinced that after so many years devoted to hockey and the Argentina national team, it’s time for me to rest and face other goals in life”, revealed the 36-year-old midfielder, nicknamed “Messi in a skirt” for her performances.

“I will leave the sport very happy with the development of my career and all the results that I achieved. I’m a lucky person for everything I have experienced and still experience with hockey”, she added.

Luciana carried the Argentine flag at the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony (photo: Getty Images/Michael Regan)

A member of Argentina national team since 1998, Lucha, as she is known, played more than 300 matches in the number 8 shirt. As team captain, the two-time World Cup and Pan American champion has been a technical role model for her teammates. Despite her departure, the player believes that Argentina will remain strong in hockey.

“The Leonas will remain very strong for a long time. There is a very good generational change [underway], with young and very talented girls who will grow even more together in international competitions with the more experienced ones that will become the group's guides”, believes the player, who did not hesitate to single out Argentina as one of the candidates for the gold in the Rio 2016 Games.

“As in all tournaments in recent years, Argentina will play a large role and will try to finally win the Olympic gold. I believe the main rivals to be the Netherlands, South Korea, England and New Zealand”, she stated.

Upon leaving the pitch for good, Luciana still does not know what the future has in store for her, but one thing is certain: she will always keep her links to hockey. The Argentine muse intends to follow the Rio Games 2016 closely and ensure her support for the national team, either on the technical staff or in the stands.

“I think of helping the development of hockey in my country, but I'm still not sure about the best way to do that. I’m still not sure if I’ll go to Rio, but it is very likely that I will help them by cheering”, concluded Luciana, who has just run a training course for 150 young people playing hockey in Argentina.