Neymar Ends Brazil Career After Last-16 World Cup Exit to Norway

EAST RUTHERFORD, United States (AFP) — Neymar suggested on Sunday that he has played his final match for Brazil, bringing the curtain down on his international career after the five-time World Cup champions were knocked out in the round of 16 by Norway.

Introduced late at MetLife Stadium, the 34-year-old converted a penalty in stoppage time. Yet Erling Haaland had already struck twice for Norway, and Brazil fell 2-1.

Neymar remains Brazil's record goalscorer. In a twist of fate, he opened his senior account for the Seleção at the same venue during a 2-0 victory over the United States in 2010.

"I tried and I tried. Now it's over. It began here and it ends here," he told a reporter from Brazil's Globo Esporte in a short post-match interview.

When the referee blew for full time, Neymar broke down in tears and needed comfort from his teammates.

Hampered by injuries over recent seasons, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward — now back with boyhood club Santos — was an unexpected pick in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad. He sat out Brazil's opening two group fixtures through injury, then entered the 3-0 triumph over Scotland in Miami that sealed qualification from the first round.

That outing marked his first cap since October 2023. His only other appearance on American soil during this tournament came on Sunday against Norway.