Neymar retires from international football after Brazil’s World Cup exit

Brazilian star striker Neymar has announced his retirement from international football. This announcement came after Brazil was eliminated from the World Cup, losing 2-1 to Norway in the Round of 16 on Monday morning.

The 34-year-old forward ends his international career as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, having netted 80 goals in 129 appearances for the national team.

An emotional Neymar said after the match, “I tried. I really tried hard. My journey started here at MetLife Stadium, and it ends here. Now, it’s all over.” With this, his long and memorable journey with Brazil’s national team has officially come to an end.

Neymar made his international debut for Brazil’s senior national team in 2010. He played in four World Cups and represented Brazil in two Olympics. In 2012, he won a silver medal, and in 2016, he led the team as captain to a historic gold medal victory.

In the 2026 World Cup, Neymar appeared as a substitute in two matches. He started the tournament by playing in the second half against Scotland during the group stage and scored his only goal of the tournament through a penalty during injury time against Norway.

Meanwhile, Norway, having stunned Brazil to reach the quarterfinals, will now compete in the semifinal qualifier on July 11 at Miami Stadium against the winner of the match between Mexico and England.