Neymar Junior announces Brazil retirement following World Cup exit | OneFootball

Former Barcelona star Neymar Junior’s international career has ended in tears, following Brazil’s exit from the 2026 World Cup in disappointing fashion. The 34-year-old was a major doubt for the tournament due to injury, but having made it into Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, he could not contribute in what turned out to be a nightmare ending to his Brazil career.

The major upset from the Round of 16 at the World Cup came in the form of Norway on Sunday night, as Erling Haaland’s brace put Brazil to the sword in emphatic fashion, albeit the Selecao did miss a first-half penalty that proved costly. Neymar was brought off the bench in the 67th minute as Brazil desperately searched for an equaliser, but he struggled to make an impact. He did put away a penalty of his own in the 96th minute, but it was too little too late.

Neymar announces retirement from Brazil duty

At the final whistle, Neymar broke down with emotion and heaved out the tears, with several teammates coming over to console him. He would pass through the mix zone on his way out of Metlife Stadium, announcing that his international career was over.

“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I’m finishing here,” MD quote. Neymar began his career against the United States in 2010 in the same ground.

Neymar’s legacy with Brazil

It brings to an end a successful but fraught career for Neymar, who won the 2013 Confederations Cup, and the 2016 Olympics, but failed to bring home a major title. As a teenage prodigy, Neymar was dubbed the successor to Pele, and as such, the hope was that he would deliver the sixth World Cup in Brazil’s history. However his became a tale of constant heartbreak, best exemplified by the broken back that he suffered in 2014, ruling him out of a run at the trophy on home soil.