Published On 7/6/2026
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Last update: 05:28 (Mecca time)
Veteran Brazilian star Neymar Jr., the Santos striker, announced his retirement from international football after his country bid farewell to the 2026 World Cup in the 16-finals following a defeat to Norway.
“I tried, and I kept trying,” Neymar said after the 2-1 loss to Norway on Sunday evening, adding, “I started my career here at MetLife Stadium, and it ended here. It’s over now.”
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Summary of Brazil’s defeat against Norway
Thus, Neymar (34 years old) brings down the curtain on an international career that began 16 years ago, during which he scored 80 goals and made 59 goals in 130 international matches.
The veteran star will bid farewell to his country’s national team as the second player who participated most in the Brazilian jersey, and the all-time top scorer, ahead of the late legend Pele.
Neymar could not control himself after his country’s withdrawal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
The Brazilians, world champions five times, most recently in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, bid farewell to the tournament with a 2-1 loss to Norway in the round of 16.
Neymar started the match on the bench, and came on as a substitute for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli in the 67th minute.
The veteran Brazilian star scored his country’s only goal in the 10th minute of stoppage time, but it was not enough to save the Seleção, after Norway took the lead with goals from Erling Haaland in the 79th and 90th minutes.
Neymar crying after leaving the World Cup
After the match ended, Neymar remained on the field, crying bitterly while raising his hands to the sky, before Rafinha, the Spanish Barcelona star, went to comfort his colleague.
The former Barcelona, French, Paris Saint-Germain, and Saudi Al-Hilal star was added to Brazil’s roster for the 2026 World Cup at the last minute, returning to his country’s national team roster after a long absence since he suffered a severe cruciate ligament tear in late 2023.
With his goal against Norway, Neymar Jr. raised his tally to 8 goals in 14 World Cup matches during 4 World Cup participations.
Neymar started scoring in the World Cup by scoring 4 goals in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with two goals in Croatia and the same against Cameroon, then a goal against Costa Rica and Mexico in the World Cup in Russia in 2018, and one goal against Croatia in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
