No more for Neymar after World Cup exit

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Neymar has retired from international football after Brazil's 2-1 loss to Norway in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16, despite his late penalty goal. Ending a 14-year international career as Brazil’s top scorer with 80 goals, Neymar's departure marks the close of an era for the five-time world champions.

Neymar has announced his retirement from international football following Brazil’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The 34-year-old forward scored a stoppage-time penalty in Sunday’s Round of 16 match against Norway but was unable to prevent a 2-1 defeat for the five-time world champions.

Coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute, Neymar converted the late penalty to narrow the deficit, but Norway held on to secure their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face England on Saturday.

In a post-match interview with TV Globo, Neymar reflected on his international career, saying, “I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here.” His debut for the Brazilian national team came at the same venue, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, in 2010.

Throughout his international tenure, Neymar established himself as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, netting 80 goals in 130 appearances. The forward, who has played for clubs including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, leaves the national team having been a central figure across multiple World Cups and international tournaments.

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