Ignashevich, 38, originally retired from international football following UEFA Euro 2016 but was called up to the squad in May by Russia head coach Stanislav Cherchesov to replace injured Rubin Kazan defender Ruslan Kambolov, becoming the oldest player ever capped both for the USSR and Russia.

He started for the national team in all of their five World Cup matches this summer and played in Sunday's (AEST) quarter-final 4-3 defeat to Croatia on penalties, announcing his retirement from football shortly afterwards.

"We should take our hats off to Sergey Ignashevich and thank him... His return to the Russian national team was the kind of step that could have ruined his whole career and reputation," Kiryakov said..

"If he had failed or delivered a poor performance, he would have been remembered by his last matches for Russia... I bow to him, that really deserves respect."

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the final set to be played at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.