Neymar Announces Brazil Retirement after World Cup 2026 Exit

Neymar has announced his retirement from international football as Brazil crashed out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Sunday (July 5).

The Selecao lost to Norway 2-1 and exited from the Round of 16 stage, as Neymar has now bid adieu to the Canary yellow shirt.

The 34-year-old, who scored a dramatic stoppage-time penalty in the July 5 clash at MetLife Stadium, confirmed the decision shortly after the final whistle. "This was my last dance. I gave everything for the yellow jersey one final time," a tearful Neymar told reporters in New Jersey.

Brazil, coached by Carlo Ancelotti and featuring a star-studded attack led by Vinícius Júnior and Endrick, topped Group C with victories over Haiti and Scotland and a draw against Morocco. They edged Japan 2-1 in the Round of 32 before falling to Erling Haaland's brace for Norway. Neymar, returning to the national team after a long injury-enforced absence, entered as a substitute and converted a late penalty to briefly spark hope, but it proved too little, too late.

Neymar's international career spanned four World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026). He became Brazil's all-time leading scorer and delivered moments of magic that defined a generation. At club level, he rose from Santos to Barcelona's historic MSN trio, won titles with PSG, and returned home to Santos in 2025. With his goal against Norway, the former Barcelona player also netted for Brazil in four World Cups in a row.

"I tried. I tried. It started here at Met Life Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over," Neymar was quoted as saying by Fabrizio Romano on X.

Neymar Brazil Career

Neymar has been an integral part of Brazil in the last one and a half decades. Since his debut in 2010, Neymar has played 180 times for the Selecao, scoring 80 goals. Despite being a mainstay for them, Neymar's solitary title with Brazil came way back in 2013, when they won the Confederations Cup on home soil.