Iran striker Sardar Azmoun announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, saying he had decided to quit the national team because insults aimed at the 23-year-old had ruined his mother's health.
Iran were knocked out of the World Cup with a win, a defeat and a draw in their three Group B matches, and Azmoun, Iran's top scorer in qualifying, did not replicate his best form in Russia, where he failed to score a single goal.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "Playing in my national team has been a great honour for me and I will be proud of myself to the end of my days," Azmoun said in a post on social media. "Unfortunately... I have come to the decision to say goodbye to my national team.
"This is one of the most painful and significant life decisions for a youth of 23, who faced great hardships to get here."
Although Iran left the World Cup with their heads held high, beating Morocco in their first match and narrowly losing to Spain before securing a gritty draw with Portugal, Azmoun said he had been subjected to abuse for his performances.
Leave your comments