New Delhi: Neymar has announced his retirement from international football after Norway ended Brazil’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 2-1 victory
in theround of 16. The forward brought the curtains down on an illustrious 16-year international career just a few moments after the final whistle.
The announcement came after a heartbreaking night in New Jersey, where Erling Haaland scored a late brace to stun the five-time World Cup champions. Neymar scored a stoppage-time penalty, but the game was almost over by then.
Speaking after the match, an emotional Neymar admitted he had done everything possible to play one last World Cup, but accepted that his international career was now over.
“I tried and tried, but now it’s over. I started here, and I ended here,” Neymar said.
Obrigado Neymar.
Se tivessem lhe deixado jogar desde o início, essa partida teria outro destino. Valeu! @neymarjr 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/yNGMsead8w— Julio Schneider 🇧🇷🇺🇸 (@juliovschneider) July 5, 2026
Painful end to a stellar career
The defeat against Norway brought a painful end to a tournament that has tested Neymar both mentally and physically. He arrived at the World Cup with an injury and missed Brazil’s opening group stage matches.
The forward gradually worked his way back into the team, and despite recovering, Neymar was limited to substitute appearances, coming off the bench against Scotland and Norway.
His last goal for Brazil came from the penalty kick deep into stoppage time against Norway, but it was just a late consolation as the five-time world champions were knocked out of the tournament.
Neymar retires as Brazil’s all-time highest men’s goal scorer, netting 80 goals in 129 international appearances after making his debut in 2010.
He had enjoyed several memorable moments on the international stage and won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 before leading Brazil to an Olympic gold medal at home in Rio 2016 after previously clinching a silver medal at the London Games in 2012.
