The veteran Brazilian star, Neymar Junior, Santos striker, announced his retirement from international play after his national team exited the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16 following a defeat to Norway.
Neymar said after the 1-2 loss to Norway on Sunday night: "I tried, and I kept trying," adding, "I started my career here at MetLife Stadium, and it ended here. It’s over now."
Thus, Neymar (34 years old) closes the curtain on an international career that began 16 years ago, during which he scored 80 goals and made 59 assists in 130 international matches.
He will bid farewell to his national team as the second most-capped player wearing the Brazil jersey and the all-time top scorer, surpassing the late legend Pelé.
Neymar was overwhelmed after his national team’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Brazil, the five-time world champions, last winning in 2002 in South Korea and Japan, exited the tournament after a 1-2 loss to Norway in the Round of 16.
Neymar started the match on the bench and came on for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli in the 67th minute.
The veteran Brazilian star scored his country’s only goal in the 10th minute of injury time, but it was not enough to save the Seleção, after Norway took the lead with two goals from Erling Haaland in the 79th and 90th minutes.
Crying after the World Cup exit, Neymar remained on the pitch weeping bitterly as he raised his hands to the sky, before Barcelona’s Rafinha went over to console his teammate.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star joined the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup at the last minute, returning to the national team after a long absence due to a serious knee ligament injury at the end of 2023.
With his goal against Norway, Neymar Junior raised his tally to 8 goals in 14 World Cup matches over 4 World Cup appearances.
Neymar started his World Cup scoring with 4 goals in the 2014 tournament in Brazil, netting twice against Croatia and twice against Cameroon, then scoring once each against Costa Rica and Mexico in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and a single goal against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.