Brazil forward Neymar has confirmed he is bringing an end to his international career following his country’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old made the announcement after Brazil suffered a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16, ending the five-time champions’ hopes of winning another world title.
Neymar came off the bench in the 67th minute with Brazil already trailing by two goals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Although he converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, the goal was only a consolation as Norway secured a historic place in the quarter-finals.
Neymar confirms international farewell
Speaking after the defeat, the veteran forward revealed that the match marked the end of his journey with the Brazilian national team.
“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here,” Neymar told TV Globo.
The stadium where Brazil’s campaign ended also holds special significance for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star. It was the same venue where he made his senior international debut in August 2010, scoring in a 2-0 friendly victory over the United States.
End of a remarkable Brazil career
Neymar leaves the national team as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 80 goals. He also finishes his international career with 130 appearances, second only to Cafu’s record of 142 matches.
The forward returned to the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup after spending almost three years away from international football because of persistent injury problems.
His tournament involvement was limited, featuring as a late substitute in Brazil’s 3-0 group-stage victory over Scotland before making another substitute appearance against Norway in what became his final match for the Selecao.
The 2026 edition was Neymar’s fourth FIFA World Cup, having previously represented Brazil at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
His retirement closes one of the most successful international careers in Brazil’s history, ending a 16-year spell in which he became one of the country’s greatest players despite never lifting the World Cup trophy.
