Neymar Hints At Retirement From International Football
EAST RUTHERFORD: Neymar has hinted that his international career with Brazil may have come to an end after the team was eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
In the match at MetLife Stadium, Neymar, who was brought on as a late substitute, managed to score a goal from a penalty kick in stoppage time.
However, the goal was merely a consolation after Erling Haaland scored twice to help Norway defeat Brazil 2-1.
The 34-year-old is Brazil’s all-time top scorer.
Ironically, he also scored his first international goal at the same stadium when Brazil defeated the United States (US) 2-0 in 2010.
“I have tried and kept trying. Now it is all over. It started here and ended here,” he said in a brief statement to Globo Esporte reporters after the match.
After the final whistle, Neymar was seen collapsing in tears and was consoled by his teammates, sparking questions about his future with the Selecao squad.
It is understood that the player, who previously played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, returned to his childhood club Santos after facing various injury problems in recent years.
Neymar was also among the surprise choices in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for this World Cup.
Injuries saw Neymar miss the first two group stage matches, but he did feature when Brazil defeated Scotland 3-0 in Miami.
That match was his first international appearance since October 2023 and also his only action in the US before the match against Norway, which saw Brazil eliminated from the tournament.
AFP