Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, Neymar, has suggested that his international career has come to an end following the Selecao’s heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday.
The 34-year-old, who started the tournament as a surprise inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad after battling a series of injuries, came off the bench late in the match at MetLife Stadium.
He converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Erling Haaland’s second-half brace sent Norway into the quarter-finals.
An emotional Neymar broke down in tears after the final whistle and was comforted by his teammates before appearing to confirm that his journey with the Brazilian national team had reached its conclusion.
“I tried, and I tried. Now it’s over. It began here, and it ends here,” Neymar said in a brief post-match interview.
The defeat marked a painful end to Brazil’s World Cup campaign and could also signal the close of one of the country’s most celebrated international careers.
Neymar, Brazil’s record goalscorer, fittingly reflected on his first international goal, which came at the same MetLife Stadium during a 2-0 victory over the United States in 2010.
Recurring injuries had limited the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward’s involvement in recent years.
He missed Brazil’s opening two group-stage matches through injury before making his return as a substitute in the 3-0 victory over Scotland, his first appearance for the national team since October 2023.
His second outing of the tournament came against Norway, but despite finding the net from the penalty spot, Brazil were unable to avoid elimination, leaving Neymar’s emotional farewell as one of the defining moments of the competition.
If Neymar officially retires from international football, he will bring the curtain down on a remarkable Brazil career that saw him become the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of its most influential players.