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Brazil captain Neymar has suggested his international career is over after the five-time world champions crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16.
The 34-year-old forward, who came off the bench at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, scored a stoppage-time penalty, but it proved only a consolation as a brace from Erling Haaland secured Norway’s historic place in the quarter-finals.
Visibly emotional after the final whistle, Neymar broke down in tears and was comforted by teammates before hinting that Sunday’s defeat could mark the end of his journey with the national team.
“I tried and I tried. Now it’s over. It began here and it ends here,” Neymar told Brazil’s Globo Esporte after the match.
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer made his international breakthrough at the same stadium in 2010, when he netted his first goal in a 2-0 victory over the United States, making the venue symbolic both for the beginning and, possibly, the end of his career with the Seleção.
Neymar’s inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad had been widely debated after a series of injury setbacks that limited his appearances over the past two years.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, who returned to Santos earlier this year, missed Brazil’s opening two group-stage matches before making his comeback as a substitute in the 3-0 victory over Scotland.
That appearance was his first for Brazil since October 2023, while Sunday’s defeat to Norway was only his second outing at the tournament.
If confirmed, Neymar’s retirement would bring the curtain down on one of the most decorated international careers in Brazilian football, ending a remarkable era for the Seleção’s record goalscorer following 16 years in the famous yellow jersey.
