Neymar in Tears After Brazil's World Cup Exit, Hints at End of National Team Career

Brazilian forward Neymar appeared visibly emotional, hinting at the end of his international journey with the national team after their 2-1 loss to Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16. The defeat, which saw Brazil eliminated earlier than anticipated, left the 34-year-old star in tears on the field.

Neymar scored Brazil's only goal from a penalty kick during injury time. However, two goals from Norway's Erling Haaland propelled his team into the quarterfinals, ending Brazil's World Cup aspirations prematurely. This marks Brazil's earliest exit from the knockout stages since the 1990 tournament.

"I tried, I tried. Now it's all over. I started here, I end here," Neymar told Globo, expressing his deep emotions shortly after the final whistle at MetLife Stadium. He made his debut for Brazil in a friendly against the United States at the same stadium in August 2010, where he also scored his first international goal.

With 80 goals, Neymar is expected to conclude his international career as Brazil's all-time leading scorer, surpassing the legendary Pelé's record of 77 goals. His penalty goal also matched Pelé's record of scoring in four different World Cup editions. Neymar has earned 130 caps for Brazil, second only to Cafu's 142 appearances.

Neymar's performance in the 2026 World Cup was hampered by a persistent right calf injury, limiting him to just two appearances. He played approximately 15 minutes against Scotland in the group stage and came on as a substitute in the 67th minute against Norway. The team now appears poised to enter a new era, with younger generations expected to lead the squad forward.

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I tried, I tried. Now it's all over. I started here, I end here.