An emotional Neymar said his international career for Brazil is "over" after an emotional exit from the 2026 World Cup, eliminated by Norway in the last 16. The 34-year-old came on as a 67th-minute substitute with his side 2-0 down at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He scored a penalty deep into added time, but it was nothing more than a consolation effort in what is set to be his last appearance for his country.
"I tried, I tried. Now it's over. I started here, I finished here," Neymar told TV Globo after the defeat. The final whistle triggered tears from the forward, who had been battling injuries and limited game time throughout the tournament.
“Neymar says his Brazil career is over after Norway knocked them out of the 2026 World Cup.”
It was a remarkable symmetry: Neymar's Brazil debut came at the same stadium in August 2010, when he scored in a 2-0 friendly win against the United States. He went on to become Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 80 goals, while his 130 appearances place him second on the all-time list behind Cafu. This was his fourth World Cup, having also played in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Neymar had not played for Brazil since 2023, struggling with injuries before being selected for the 2026 squad. He came on as a late substitute in Brazil's final group game, a 3-0 win against Scotland, and his only other outing at this summer's tournament came against Norway. Despite his late intervention from the penalty spot, Norway held on to knock Brazil out.
The defeat leaves a gaping hole in a Brazil side that now faces a major rebuild without its talisman. For Neymar, the journey that began in New Jersey 16 years ago ended on the same pitch, in tears, and with a finality that leaves no room for doubt.