An emotional Neymar has confirmed that his international career is "over" following Brazil's shock elimination from the World Cup 2026 at the hands of Norway.
Emotional farewell at the same stadium where it all began
The 34-year-old forward came on as a 67th-minute substitute with Brazil already 2-0 down in the last-16 tie at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He scored a consolation penalty deep into added time but could not prevent a 2-1 defeat that ended the Seleção's campaign. In a post-match interview with TV Globo, Neymar said:
"I tried, I tried. Now it's over. I started here, I finished here."The venue held deep personal significance — it was the same stadium where Neymar made his senior Brazil debut in August 2010, scoring in a 2-0 friendly win against the United States.
A glittering international career in numbers
Neymar leaves as Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 80 goals in 130 appearances, a caps tally second only to Cafu's 142. He represented his country at four World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026), becoming the face of the national team for over a decade. His honours include the 2013 Confederations Cup and an Olympic gold medal in 2016, with the World Cup the one major prize that eluded him.
Injury struggles and a subdued farewell tournament
Neymar had not played for Brazil since 2023 due to persistent injury problems before being named in the 2026 World Cup squad. His only previous appearance at the tournament was a late cameo in the group-stage win over Scotland. Against Norway, he was introduced in the hope of salvaging the tie, but the deficit proved too great. The defeat marks the end of an era for a player who defined Brazilian football's modern identity.
Key Takeaways
- Neymar retires from international football after Brazil's World Cup 2026 last-16 exit to Norway.
- The 34-year-old scored a late penalty at the same MetLife Stadium where he debuted for Brazil in 2010.
- He leaves as Brazil's all-time record goalscorer with 80 goals and second-most capped player with 130 appearances.
- Injuries limited his involvement in his final World Cup, with only two substitute appearances.
- Neymar played at four World Cups but never lifted the trophy, ending his international career without football's ultimate prize.
Quick Facts
Age: 34
Brazil goals: 80 (all-time record)
Brazil caps: 130 (second all-time)
World Cup appearances: 4 (2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Debut: August 2010 vs. USA at MetLife Stadium
Final match: July 2026 vs. Norway at MetLife Stadium — a 2-1 loss.
Source: BBC Sport