Brazil star Neymar has suggested that his time with the national team may have come to an end following the country’s painful exit from the 2026 World Cup after a 2 to 1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16.
The five time world champions were knocked out on Sunday after Erling Haaland scored twice for Norway. Neymar came off the bench late in the game at MetLife Stadium and managed to pull one back for Brazil from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, but it was not enough to stop the team’s elimination.
Speaking shortly after the match, the 34 year old appeared to hint that he had played his final game for Brazil.
“I tried and I tried. Now it’s over. It began here and it ends here,” Neymar said during a brief exchange with a journalist from Brazil’s Globo Esporte after the final whistle.
The emotional weight of the defeat was clear as Neymar broke down in tears at the end of the game and had to be comforted by teammates.
Brazil’s all time leading scorer has endured a difficult spell with injuries in recent years, which made his inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad a surprise to many. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain forward, who is now back at his boyhood club Santos, missed Brazil’s opening two group matches because of fitness issues.
He eventually returned to action in the team’s 3 to 0 victory over Scotland in Miami, marking his first appearance for Brazil since October 2023. His only other outing at the tournament came in Sunday’s defeat to Norway, a match that may now stand as the final chapter of his international career.
