Neymar retires from international football after Brazil’s World Cup exit

Brazil's iconic forward Neymar has suggested that his international football career has concluded following the team's disappointing exit from the World Cup. The five-time champions were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Norway, ending their hopes of securing a record-extending sixth title.

Neymar, who came on as a late substitute, managed to score a penalty deep into injury time. However, this late strike proved to be a mere consolation as Norway had already secured their victory with two goals from Erling Haaland. The final score read 2-1 in favor of Norway, marking a premature end to Brazil's campaign.

The 34-year-old forward, who is Brazil's all-time leading scorer, shared emotional words with reporters after the match. "I tried, and I tried. Now it's over. It began here, and it ends here," Neymar stated, referencing the MetLife Stadium where he scored his first international goal in 2010. He was visibly distraught, collapsing in tears as the final whistle blew and requiring comfort from his teammates.

Neymar's recent years have been hampered by injuries, impacting his availability for key matches. Despite this, he was included in the squad for the World Cup. His participation in this tournament was limited, having missed the initial group games due to injury. He made a brief appearance in the win against Scotland and then played against Norway in the match that ended Brazil's World Cup dreams.

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I tried, and I tried. Now it's over. It began here, and it ends here.