In the dressing room at the heart of the Limassol Stadium, in the run-up to Spain's 3-1 win over Cyprus which would see them secure top spot in Group A, Jesús Navas, the veteran of almost 38 years, was proudly giving out hugs and words of advice to the other players he had been selected to captain, as any veteran of almost 38 years reaching this notable milestone with the national team would. It has now been 50 nights in red that light up everyone's memories and of which Navas, loved in the locker room, speaks emotionally. "Every moment with the national team is very special, I enjoy it to the full. Reaching that number is something unique," he says. "It's incredible everything I've achieved with the national team, and I want to continue enjoying it, I still want to achieve more success. It's something to be very proud of”.
Of course it is special, nothing is as beautiful as playing for Spain, and Navas grew up dreaming of just that. "It's what you dream of when you want to be a footballer. To be able to play for your country and give everything." The first time he donned the Spanish colours was in 2009, against Argentina at the Vicente Calderon, and Navas still gets goosebumps when he looks back on that night on the banks of the Manzanares river (Madrid). "It was something very special. I had been fighting for so long to make it to the national team... I really enjoyed that game against Argentina at the Calderón, which we managed to win.
It was all a prelude to what was to come, as that team went on to achieve, shortly afterwards, the greatest achievement on planet football. "There was Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Capdevila, Xabi Alonso, Villa, Iniesta... Then we won the World Cup a few months later. It was something unique.
Navas, although he looks calm, can't sit still for a second in the lead up to the match, faithful to a routine he has been repeating since he started kicking the ball around. "I try to stay focused on the game. An hour and a half before I'm already moving, I like to be active, move around the dressing room, stay focused and go all out". And he does it wearing the number 22, which has a beautiful story behind it "I've always liked it, it's a number I like, the number I started with. I enjoyed it in the World Cup and we won it. It's given me luck and I've kept coming back and winning titles".
At times like these it’s normal to want to take a moment to think of those who have always been by his side throughout his very long and beautiful career. "I remember my grandparents, who always took me to football and were always there for me. My grandfather can't be with us, he follows us from heaven. And I remember José Antonio Reyes, Antonio Puerta, all those who were with us and we will always have them in our hearts. And all my family, who have always supported me at all times. This is for them too".
And, of course, recognition also goes to all his teammates from the national team, who all look up to the oldest international to wear the Spain shirt because of everything he brings to the dressing room and his infectious personality. His words of gratitude were for them after Pedro Rocha, president of the management committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, recognised him on Thursday night with a commemorative shirt to celebrate the achievement: "It is a source of pride every time I see you here. To continue enjoying with you after so many years and so many successes... Let's keep going, you're great!
