• Brazil

Fred retires from international football

ESPN staff
July 13, 2014
Fred scored just one goal in the World Cup © Getty Images
Enlarge

Brazil striker Fred has announced his retirement from international football a day after the Selecao's World Cup campaign ended with defeat to Netherlands in the third-place play-off.

Fred, 30, has been a much-maligned figure in his homeland during the finals after a string of subpar performances.

Scolari: It's out of my hands

  • Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insists his future will be decided by the Brazilian Football Confederation after the World Cup hosts ended their tournament with a second straight defeat.
  • Click here to continue reading

The Fluminense forward, who was top scorer at last year's Confederations Cup, netted just one goal in six games - against Cameroon - for the hosts as they fell short in their bid to win the trophy with a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.

The game proved to be an ignominious end to the international career of Fred who, having been an unused substitute in the third-place play-off, confirmed he would not play for Brazil again.

"For me, the Selecao is finished," Fred told Brazilian newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo on Sunday.

Fred made his debut for Brazil in 2005 and scored 18 goals in 39 games.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close