Sardar Azmoun to quit Iran's national team

Rubin Kazan's 23-year-old striker Sardar Azmoun said he would quit the Iranian national football team naming his mother's disease as the reason for the "painful" decision.

"It was a great honor for me to play for the national team and I will be proud of myself all my life. Unfortunately, despite my interest and my heart's desire, I have decided to say goodbye to my country's national team. It is definitely the most painful decision for a 23-year-old player," Azmoun said via his Instagram account.

Iran was knocked out of the FIFA World Cup on Monday after only toughing out a 1-1 draw against reigning European champions Portugal in their final Group B game, Sputnik reported.

Azmoun, who has been playing his football in Russia since 2013, scored 23 goals in 36 matches for Iran since making his senior debut in 2014.