Ilde Lima, international central defender for Andorra, will retire tonight at the age of 43 at the Stade de Tourbillon in Sion (Switzerland), after the match between the two teams, after 26 years of international career, the longest in history.
Furthermore, if he plays a few minutes in the match, he will also become the third player with the most games played in Euro Cup qualification.
Ildefonso Lima He was born in Barcelona on December 10, 1979. He started his career in football at FC Andorra and also pass through the lower categories of Barça. As a senior he was active in Spanish B and here began his journey through professional football.
He defended the shirts of Sant Andreu, the Greek Ionic, the Mexican Pachuca, two seasons in UD Las Palmas, Poli Ejido and Rayo Vallecano.
And then a more successful stage being an important piece in Triestine of the Italian Serie B adding four seasons with 87 games and one goal. After Italy he went to Switzerland to play in Bellinzona with two seasons, 45 games and four goals. He returned to Triestine and from there I went home to serve the FC Andorra, FC Santa Coloma, Inter Club Escaldes and FC Andorra B until this season.
Legends as rivals
A player who knows that the Stade de Tourbillon del Sion will retire, because defending the colors of Bellinzona he played on two occasions. Ilde Lima is the last active player who can be said to have defended the legends Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Luka Modric, Beckham, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappé.
The Andorran has the longest career by an international player. He debuted a June 22, 1997 in an Estonia against Andorra and hung up his boots a September 12, 2023 in a Switzerland against Andorra. He is a ‘Guinness World Record’ holder. He is also the third player with the most appearances in a single World Cup qualifying round, equaling his 43 appearances. Cristiano Ronaldo. Only Jehle and Astafjevs They have played more games than him.
Record of games and goals in Andorra
Ilde Lima has an account 136 matches with his national team after being separated from the national team for two years by the Andorran Football Federation (FAF). He also holds the record for leading scorer for his team with 11 goals although he occupies the central defensive position. In fact, the Andorran team has only scored 69 goals since its international debut.
Ilde Lima’s balance as an international player is 6 wins, 21 draws and 109 losses. Their first victory came in 2000 against Belarus. It also surpassed Albania in 2002, San Marino in 2017, Hungary in 2017, Moldova in 2019 and Liechtenstein in 2022.
The most special fight
One of their most special matches was against France, who later became world champions in 1998. In Saint-Denis the match ended 2-0.
The central defender is the oldest footballer to play in a national team match at 43 years, 8 months and 27 days. Now he is leaving the national team and will soon hang up his boots with FC Andorra’s second team in the third region. A legend of Andorran football.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
