IBNS-CMEDIA: Brazilian football star Neymar announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 on Sunday, leaving millions of fans around the world emotional.
The stylish forward brings down the curtain on an illustrious international career as Brazil’s all-time leading men’s goal scorer, netting 80 goals in 129 appearances.
Since making his senior debut in 2010, Neymar represented Brazil in four consecutive FIFA World Cups, dazzling fans with his exceptional dribbling, creativity and flair. He also competed in two Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in 2012 before captaining Brazil to its historic Olympic gold medal triumph in 2016.
In what proved to be his final World Cup, Neymar made two appearances as a substitute, scoring his only goal from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time against Norway.
Following Brazil’s elimination, the 34-year-old was seen in tears on the pitch as teammates gathered around to console him in an emotional farewell.
Speaking after the match, Neymar said: “I tried.”
“It started here, at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over,” he added.
Paying tribute to the Brazilian great, former France star Thierry Henry told Fox Sports: “Thank you. This is a guy I would’ve paid to watch. Simple as that.”
“We can talk about tactics. We can talk about whatever it is … but this guy could play anywhere, at any time, in any style. He could’ve made anyone — and he did make anyone — love the game with the way he was, his goals, his smile, the way he went about it and his skills,” Henry said.
“Anyone young wanted to be Neymar. You wanted to be Neymar. This guy changed the game with the way he was playing it. So, I don’t want to talk about a World Cup and the way he finished. I want to talk about what he has given to the game. Neymar was, and always will be, an outstanding player,” he added.
Norway produced one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by stunning five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in a gripping Round of 16 clash. Erling Haaland scored twice to send the Scandinavian nation into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in its history.
The contest remained evenly poised until the closing stages before Haaland struck twice in dramatic fashion. Although Neymar converted a late penalty in stoppage time to pull one back, Brazil could not find an equaliser as Norway held firm to complete a famous victory and end one of the greatest international careers in football history.
