international
n. countable A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˌɪnɝˈnæʃənəɫ// UK //ˌɪntənˈæʃənəl// in·ter·na·tion·al
n. a person who plays for their country in a national sports team. It can also mean a game played between two different countries.
n. a sportsperson who has represented their country at a national level. It may also refer to a competitive match between national teams.
He is a former rugby international who now works as a coach.
After several impressive performances for his club, the young striker finally earned his first senior international against France.
The squad is composed of seasoned internationals whose collective experience in high-pressure tournaments provides a stabilizing influence for the younger debutants.
Usage
Commonly used in British English to refer to both the athlete and the sporting event.