Brazilian football icon Neymar has announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s shock 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing the curtain down on a glittering 16-year career with the Selecao.
The 34-year-old forward, who came on as a substitute, scored Brazil’s only goal from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, but it was not enough to prevent the five-time world champions from crashing out of the tournament.
An emotional Neymar broke down in tears at the final whistle before confirming that he had played his last match for Brazil.
“I tried, I tried. It started here, and I finished here. It is now over,” Neymar said after the match, referring to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he also made his senior debut for Brazil in 2010.
Neymar bows out as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, having netted 80 goals in 130 international appearances. During his illustrious career, he helped Brazil win the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and claimed Olympic gold on home soil at the Rio 2016 Games.
Although he enjoyed tremendous success at club level with Santos, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the FIFA World Cup title remained the one major trophy that eluded him.
While his international career has come to an end, Neymar is expected to continue playing club football with Santos as he considers the next chapter of his professional career.
