Neymar Bids Farewell to Brazilian National Team: 'It's Over Now'

Neymar, Brazil's record goalscorer, announced his retirement from international football on Sunday, following the Seleção's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The emotional declaration came after a tournament that saw him return to the national team after a prolonged absence due to injuries.

"I tried, I tried. I started here (at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey) and I end here. It's over now," said the Santos forward, marking the end of his illustrious national team career. His journey with the five-time world champions spanned four World Cups: 2014, 2018, 2022, and the recently concluded 2026 edition. Despite his individual brilliance and goal-scoring prowess, the ultimate prize, the World Cup trophy, remained elusive throughout his tenure.

Neymar's best World Cup finish was the semifinals in 2014, a tournament remembered for Brazil's devastating 7-1 loss to Germany on home soil, a match he missed due to injury. In the 2026 tournament, under coach Carlo Ancelotti, Neymar played a more subdued role, often coming off the bench. He was introduced in the 67th minute of the match against Norway with the score tied at 0-0, but Norway's Erling Haaland scored twice shortly after.

The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star managed to score a penalty in stoppage time, offering a slight consolation in the final match of his international career. As the final whistle blew, Neymar was seen collapsing and weeping on the pitch, comforted by his teammates. His international debut also took place at the MetLife Stadium on October 10, 2010, in a friendly against the United States, which Brazil won 2-0.

Throughout his 130 appearances and 10,673 minutes for Brazil, Neymar netted 80 goals, surpassing legends like Pelé, Ronaldo, Romário, Zico, and Bebeto. However, these remarkable scoring statistics did not translate into major international titles beyond the 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medal, and the 2011 South American U-20 Championship. He also missed Brazil's 2019 Copa América triumph due to injury, a recurring theme that plagued his national team career.

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I tried, I tried. I started here (at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey) and I end here. It's over now.