NEW JERSEY: Brazil star Neymar has announced his retirement from international football after his side’s 2-1 defeat to Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.
Norway reached the quarter-finals for the first time in World Cup history after Erling Haaland scored twice to eliminate the five-time champions. Neymar scored Brazil’s only goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
Speaking after the match, the 34-year-old said: “I gave everything I had. It all started here in this stadium, and now it ends here. It’s over.”
Neymar made his Brazil debut on August 10, 2010, in a friendly against the United States at the same stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
He retires as Brazil’s all-time leading men’s international goalscorer with 80 goals, surpassing the late Pelé’s record by three goals.
