Neymar Jr. Announces Retirement from International Football After World Cup Exit

In a surprising turn of events, Neymar Jr. has announced his retirement from international football following Brazil's unexpected exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026. After a stunning 2-1 defeat to Norway, where he scored a late penalty, Neymar reflects on his illustrious career, ending as Brazil's all-time leading scorer. This marks a significant moment in Brazilian football history, as Neymar's departure closes a chapter that has defined the sport for over a decade. Discover more about his journey and the implications of this retirement in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 6, 2026, 06:04 IST

Neymar's International Career Comes to an End

New York [US], July 6: Veteran Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr. has declared his retirement from international play following Brazil's unexpected 2-1 loss to Norway in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, held at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

He concludes his international journey as Brazil's all-time leading scorer.

The 34-year-old forward made his announcement shortly after Brazil's quest for a sixth World Cup title was dashed by Erling Haaland's late goals, despite Neymar scoring a penalty in stoppage time that served only as a consolation.

In a reflective moment, Neymar shared with reporters, as cited by ESPN UK, "I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here; I finished here."

Neymar's penalty, awarded in the 10th minute of added time after Leo Ostigard fouled Casemiro, marked his first goal of the tournament, bringing his international tally to 80 goals and 59 assists across 130 matches, further solidifying his status as Brazil's top scorer.

His retirement signifies the end of a remarkable international career, during which he played a pivotal role in Brazil's triumph at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and secured an Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games.

Despite fitness concerns that cast doubt on his participation in the World Cup, head coach Carlo Ancelotti included Neymar in the 26-man squad, hoping his experience would lead Brazil to a successful tournament.

However, Brazil's campaign ended dramatically. Norway, gaining confidence, withstood Brazilian pressure before Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with a powerful header from a cross by Andreas Schjelderup.

Haaland then scored again shortly after, putting Norway ahead 2-0 and tying with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race with seven goals.

Neymar's late penalty reduced the deficit, but Brazil could not recover, allowing Norway to achieve their first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance.

This defeat marked Brazil's seventh consecutive knockout loss to European teams and their earliest World Cup exit since 1990, while Neymar's heartfelt farewell signifies the conclusion of a significant era in Brazilian football.