[4][5][6] A Spain international from 2009 to 2024, Navas helped his country to win the 2010 World Cup, two European Championships and the 2022–23 Nations League, earning 56 caps and scoring five goals.

[8] In 2005–06, Navas once again impressed, being a crucial element as the Andalusians claimed victory in that campaign's UEFA Cup; he appeared in all 12 matches in the competition, including the final against Middlesbrough.

[22] On 4 June 2013, after speculation concerning Navas' future, Sevilla confirmed that he was leaving the club with the expectation of joining Premier League side Manchester City.

[29] Navas returned to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on 3 November 2015, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 win in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and assisting Wilfried Bony for the last goal.

[32] Late in the 2016–17 campaign, Navas was reconverted by new manager Pep Guardiola into a right-back, and from that position he contributed two decisive passes in a 3–1 home defeat of Hull City on 8 April 2017.

[38] On 20 September 2017, he celebrated his 400th competitive appearance for the club by scoring the only goal of the 1–0 home win over Las Palmas,[39] and he surpassed Pablo Blanco's record of 416 matches when he came off the bench against Levante on 16 December.

[41] On 18 October 2018, the board of directors decided to rename the main stadium of the training ground, the Ciudad Deportiva José Ramón Cisneros Palacios, as Estadio Jesús Navas in recognition of his professional career.

[45] On 31 May 2023, the 37-year-old started in the Europa League final against José Mourinho's Roma, which ended in a penalty shoot-out victory following a 1–1 draw; he played a pivotal role, as it was his teasing cross in the 55th minute that resulted in Gianluca Mancini's own goal to tie the match.

[49] Navas scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Getafe on 14 September 2024, becoming the oldest player to achieve this for Sevilla in La Liga aged 38 years and 298 days, breaking the previous record of Sergio Ramos.

[50] On 14 December, he played his final match at the Sánchez Pizjuán, a 1–0 victory against Celta de Vigo; he came off after 70 minutes, to hugs from his teammates and a standing ovation from the crowd.

[51] His last overall appearance took place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, a 4–2 loss to Real Madrid where he took the field at the hour mark and was cheered by spectators before and after the game.

In August 2009, he announced his desire to overcome his condition in order to stake his claim in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and made himself available for selection, stating: "To play for your country is the greatest thing and I hope to be able to, too.

[62] Navas was one of seven players cut from Spain's final squad for the 2014 World Cup, alongside Manchester City teammate Álvaro Negredo.

He also suffered from anxiety attacks[78] and seizures,[79] and initially refused to travel with Sevilla during pre-season to the United States due to his homesickness, later changing his mind in a bid to rid himself of this condition.