Neymar announces retirement from international football

Neymar has officially announced his retirement from international football following Brazil's shock exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision had long been expected, with the tournament widely seen as the 34-year-old's final World Cup. After Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16, the Brazilian superstar confirmed that his journey with the national team had come to an end.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Neymar said: "I tried. I really tried. It started at MetLife Stadium, and it ends here. Now it's all over."
His announcement brings the curtain down on one of the most celebrated international careers in Brazilian football history.
Neymar finishes as Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 80 international goals, surpassing the legendary Pele's record, which he had equalled during the 2022 World Cup before moving ahead in the 2026 edition.
Although he never achieved his ultimate dream of lifting the FIFA World Cup, Neymar enjoyed several memorable moments in the famous yellow jersey.
His greatest international triumph came in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where Brazil won the title and Neymar was named the tournament's best player.
In the 2021 Copa América, he guided Brazil to the final, only to suffer defeat against Argentina.
At the World Cup, Neymar experienced both glory and heartbreak. He was part of Brazil's squad that reached the semi-finals in 2014 but missed the historic defeat to Germany through injury. In the following two editions, he led Brazil to the quarter-finals, while the 2026 campaign ended in the Round of 16 with the loss to Norway.
With that defeat, Neymar's pursuit of a long-awaited World Cup title came to an end, closing a remarkable chapter in Brazilian football history.

MMR