Neymar Jr. has decided to retire from international football after Brazil's shocking 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup; a sad end to one of the greatest careers in the history of the country's football history. The magician walked away through the tunnel and many people lost their hero in a glimpse.
The 34-year-old leaves Brazil as the all-time leading goalscorer with 80 goals in 129 appearances for the nation over his 16-year career. His last match for the Seleção was at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey - where he made his senior Brazil debut in 2010.
Neymar came on as a second half substitute and scored a penalty deep into stoppage time to reduce Brazil's deficit against Norway. But the goal was nothing more than a consolation as Erling Haaland's second-half brace sent the five-time world champions crashing out of the tournament.
Neymar’s sad defeat was the endgame of his international career. But after the final whistle the Brazilian star broke down in tears and cried on the pitch while his teammates came to his side. There were so many pictures of the emotional forward crying uncontrollably on social media as millions of football fans worldwide were left feeling that it was the end.
Neymar has decided to retire from international football, he said after the match.
"I tried, I tried. Now it's over," Neymar said. “I started here; I finished here.
Neymar will continue his club career with Santos FC, but will take his career one season at a time and assess what he will do.
Brazil's elimination also continued a worrying trend on football's biggest stage. The defeat to Norway means that the Seleção have now failed to beat a European team at the FIFA World Cup since beating Germany in the 2002 final to win their fifth world title. Their race for a record-extending sixth World Cup crown will now go beyond 2030, and their title drought has now been more than a quarter of a century.
The game itself took place in many important moments. Brazil dominated much of the first half but failed to take advantage after Bruno Guimaraes had his penalty saved by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. That missed opportunity proved costly as Haaland struck twice in the last 25 minutes so Norway took complete control before Neymar converted a late penalty in injury time.
🇧🇷 One last dance on the world stage, one final tear as Brazil's World Cup journey comes to an end.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 6, 2026
Thank you for the magic, the goals, and the unforgettable moments, Neymar.
The King of the Joga Bonito era bows out.
Writer: Daniyalpic.twitter.com/TtkrijNwXn
But Coach Carlo Ancelotti in Brazil made the case for the defeat to be a motivator rather than a reason to despair.
"Obviously everyone is deeply disappointed, considering what happened. I don’t think we had a spectacular World Cup but we had a good one. I think we even deserved to win the game today," Ancelotti said after the match.
The Italian manager, who took charge of Brazil just over a year ago, dismissed any suggestions that he might step down after the embarrassing campaign. He described the tournament as the beginning of a rebuilding process.
"I don’t think this is the end. I think this is the start of a new cycle," Ancelotti said. “With the squad we have Brazil could have competed right to the end of this World Cup. Now we need to keep earning our places and keep trying to improve."
Ancelotti is under contract until 2030 FIFA World Cup and will lead Brazil’s next generation as they try to restore the nation’s dominance on the world stage.
Neymar, however, is through with an impressive international career. From the day he came into the world as a teenager and became Brazil’s all-time goalscorer, he leaves behind a career of unheralded performances and dazzling football and a proud loyalty to the yellow jersey— even if the dream he always wanted the most, a World Cup title, was out of reach.
