Neymar's Father Urges Him to Continue Playing After International Retirement
Father's Heartfelt Message to Neymar
Following Neymar's announcement of his retirement from international football after Brazil's exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026, his father expressed a touching plea for him to keep playing the sport he loves. According to reports from a sports outlet, Neymar's father took to social media to share a moving note directed at his son, who wore the iconic No. 10 jersey for the Selecão. He encouraged Neymar to 'return to playing soccer' and continue his journey on the field.
Neymar's International Career Comes to an End
Neymar declared his retirement from international play after Brazil faced a 2-1 defeat against Norway in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026, held at MetLife Stadium. He concluded his international career as Brazil's all-time leading scorer.
The 34-year-old forward made this announcement shortly after Brazil's aspirations for a sixth World Cup title were dashed by Erling Haaland's late goals. Neymar managed to score a penalty in stoppage time, which was merely a consolation. Reflecting on his journey with the national team, he stated to reporters, 'I tried, I tried. Now it's over. I started here; I finished here.'
His penalty, awarded in the 10th minute of added time after a foul on Casemiro, marked his first goal of the tournament, bringing his international tally to 80 goals and 59 assists across 130 matches, further solidifying his record as Brazil's leading scorer.
Career Achievements
Throughout his tenure with the Selecão, Neymar played a pivotal role in securing the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and clinching the Olympic gold medal during the Rio 2016 Games.
Unexpected Loss to Norway
Neymar's participation in the World Cup was uncertain until the final squad selection due to fitness issues. Nevertheless, head coach Carlo Ancelotti included him in Brazil's 26-man roster, hoping his experience would lead to a successful tournament run.
Unfortunately, Brazil's campaign ended dramatically. Norway, gaining confidence in the knockout stages, withstood significant Brazilian pressure before Haaland scored the first goal in the 79th minute with a powerful header from a cross by Andreas Schjelderup. This defeat marked Brazil's seventh consecutive World Cup knockout loss to European teams and their earliest exit since 1990, while Neymar's emotional farewell signified the end of an era that shaped Brazilian football for over a decade.