Brazil forward Neymar Jr has announced his retirement from international football.
The 34-year-old confirmed the decision after Brazil’s last-16 defeat to Norway at the 2026 World Cup. He ends his Selecao career as the men’s team’s all-time top scorer, with 80 goals in 129 appearances.
Neymar played twice at this World Cup, and scored a late penalty in the dying minutes of his final match. That spot-kick, however, could not stop Brazil from bowing out at their earliest World Cup stage since 1966.
He had dropped hints all year that this tournament would be his last for the national team, and Brazilian media reported on Sunday night that he had “called it a day.”
The emotional scenes were striking: Neymar laughed at Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland after converting the penalty, then broke down in tears at full-time.
