Carlos explains retirement decision

Roberto Carlos has justified his international retirement by insisting playing for Brazil was no longer contributing anything to his career.

The Real Madrid left-back said goodbye to the national team after this summer’s World Cup, in which Brazil were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals.

Carlos, who won the World Cup in 2002, told Brazilian station SporTV: “My spell at the national team was successful, but was not adding anything to my life.

“I had to play on Wednesday, fly, play on Saturday, travel again. It was all polemic and pressure.

“In the national team, you don’t earn money. The national team is a privilege.”

However, he also blamed an overly judgmental press for making him feel that playing for Brazil had become a chore.

He said: “The Brazilian media were speaking nonsense.

“I am not rejoining the national team because I cannot stand three or four people who have never played football criticising all the time.”