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Brazil superstar Neymar indicated that his international career was over after Brazil were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup by Norway in the round of 16, the tournament's first knockout stage.
The 34-year-old came on as a late substitute at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and scored a penalty in stoppage time, the added minutes at the end of the match. His goal, however, could not turn the game around after Erling Haaland scored twice for Norway in a 2-1 win.
Brazil, five-time World Cup winners, went out of the tournament despite Neymar’s late contribution from the penalty spot.
After the final whistle, Neymar collapsed in tears and was consoled by his teammates. Speaking briefly to Brazil’s Globo Esporte after the match, he said: “I tried and I tried. Now it’s over. It began here and it ends here.”
The moment carried added significance because Neymar’s Brazil career also began at the same stadium. He scored his first international goal at MetLife Stadium in 2010, helping Brazil beat the United States 2-0.
Neymar leaves the international stage as Brazil’s all-time top scorer, having carried a central role for his country across several World Cup cycles.
Injuries had limited Neymar’s role in recent years, and his inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad came as a surprise.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, now back at his first club Santos, missed Brazil’s first two group matches through injury.
He returned in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami, his first international appearance since October 2023.
His only other appearance at the tournament came against Norway, where his late penalty became his final act in a Brazil shirt.
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