Neymar Ends International Career Following Brazil's World Cup Exit
Brazilian football star Neymar has announced his retirement from international football after Brazil's 2–1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, ended the five-time champions' campaign and marked the final appearance for Neymar in the national jersey.
Neymar, who came off the bench and scored a late penalty, was visibly emotional after the match. He confirmed that he will no longer represent Brazil. 'I tried, I tried… Now it’s over! I started here, I finished here,' he said, referring to the same stadium where he made his senior debut in a friendly against the United States in 2010.
The 34-year-old forward is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances. His international career spanned 16 years and included a Confederations Cup title in 2013 and an Olympic gold medal in 2016.
Brazil's exit from the tournament was a major upset, as the team was considered one of the favourites. The match saw Norway take an early lead, with Brazil equalising before halftime. A second-half goal from Norway proved decisive, despite Neymar's late penalty.
