GUWAHATI: The curtain fell on Neymar's remarkable international career on Sunday night, July 5, after Brazil crashed out of the FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 Round of 16 defeat to Norway at MetLife Stadium. Shortly after the final whistle, the Brazilian superstar confirmed that he had played his last match for the Seleção, bringing an end to a 16-year journey that established him among the nation's greatest footballers.
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The 34-year-old left the pitch in tears after converting a stoppage-time penalty, which ultimately became the final goal of his career for the Seleção. Visibly emotional after the final whistle, Neymar confirmed that his journey with the national team had come to an end.
"I tried, I tried. Now it's over. I started here, I closed it here," Neymar told geTV, referring to MetLife Stadium, where he had made his senior debut for Brazil against the United States in 2010. Sixteen years later, the same venue witnessed the end of his World Cup dream as Brazil bowed out of the tournament.
Neymar retires from international football as Brazil's all-time leading men's goalscorer, having netted 80 goals and registered 59 assists in 130 appearances, surpassing the official national team scoring record previously held by Pelé. Since making his debut as a teenager, he became the focal point of Brazil's attack across four World Cups, carrying the weight of a nation’s expectations through multiple generations, coaches and rebuilding phases.
Despite his individual brilliance, a World Cup title remained elusive. His 2014 campaign ended prematurely after a back injury in the quarterfinals, before Brazil suffered their historic 7-1 semifinal defeat to Germany. In 2018, Brazil were knocked out by Belgium in the quarterfinals, while in 2022, Neymar's extra-time goal against Croatia was not enough to prevent elimination in a penalty shootout.
The 2026 World Cup marked the final chapter, with Norway ending Brazil's campaign in the Round of 16 and bringing one of the greatest international careers in the country's history to a close.
