Midfielder Barron played the last four minutes of New Zealand's 1-1 draw with Italy, receiving international attention as an odd man out among the world's highest-paid footballers.

Barron, 30, said he had always intended to retire after the World Cup and to concentrate on his full-time banking job. His retirement was from all levels of football, including weekly matches for the amateur Petone club on a muddy field in suburban Wellington.

Barron said he had always taken vacation to play for New Zealand and owed it to his employers to concentrate on his career.