The 38-year-old fast bowler made the announcement on social media on Tuesday, after an excellent career for the Proteas, spanning 93 Tests, 125 One Day Internationals and 47 T20 Internationals.
Steyn retires with 439 Test wickets to his name, the most of any South African, ahead of Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald and Morne Morkel.
“And it’s been a long December and there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than last. I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass,” Steyn wrote on Twitter.
“It’s been 20 years of training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jetlag, joy, and brotherhood. There are too many memories to tell. Too many faces to thank. So I left it to the experts to sum up, my favourite band, the Counting Crows.
“Today I officially retire from the game I love the most. Bitter sweet but grateful. Thank you everyone, from family to teammates, journalists to fans, it’s been an incredible journey together.”
Announcement. pic.twitter.com/ZvOoeFkp8w
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) August 31, 2021
The right-arm quick debuted for South Africa in Test cricket in 2004 against England, with his last international appearance coming in February last year against Australia in a T20 International.
Injuries slowed Steyn down late in his career, retiring from Test cricket in August 2019, but he continued to play in the shorter formats, including in franchise T20 tournaments around the world.
Steyn has a long list of accolades headlined by winning the 2008 ICC Test Player of the Year award, as well as being an eight-time ICC Test Team of the Year member. He was also the South African Cricketer of the Year in 2008.