Neymar Announces Retirement After FIFA World Cup Heartbreak: 'It Is Now Over'

Last Updated:July 06, 2026, 05:35 IST

Neymar has announced his retirement from international football after Brazil's World Cup exit, ending a glittering 16-year career as the nation's all-time leading scorer.

The curtain has finally fallen on the ‘Prince’.

Neymar announced his retirement from international football on Sunday moments after Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing an end to a 16-year journey with the Seleção.

The 34-year-old signed off in fitting fashion by scoring Brazil’s only goal from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time. It was his 80th goal in 130 appearances for Brazil, extending his record as the nation’s all-time leading men’s scorer. He also finishes with 59 assists in the famous yellow shirt.

A Full Circle Moment For Neymar

Fighting back tears after the final whistle at MetLife Stadium, Neymar confirmed that his international career had come full circle.

“I tried. I tried. It started here at Met Life stadium and I finished here. It is now over," he told reporters.

The full-circle moment wasn’t lost on any. Neymar scored his first goal for Brazil at MetLife Stadium on August 10, 2010, as an 18-year-old prodigy. Sixteen years later, he scored his final international goal at the very same venue before calling time on a remarkable career.

A Final World Cup Filled With Adversity

Questions surrounded Neymar’s fitness heading into the tournament after he suffered a calf injury while playing for Santos earlier this year.

Although Carlo Ancelotti included him in Brazil’s 26-man squad, Neymar never fully regained a starting role and spent much of the tournament coming off the bench.

He entered Sunday’s knockout clash against Norway in the second half with the score goalless, but Brazil conceded twice before Neymar converted a late penalty that ultimately proved nothing more than a consolation.

The defeat also marked Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990.

A Glittering Career 

Few players have shaped Brazilian football like Neymar.

He lifted the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and captained Brazil to Olympic gold on home soil at Rio 2016. Individually, he leaves as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing the legendary Pelé.

Yet the FIFA World Cup remained the one trophy that always eluded him.

His four World Cup campaigns were defined by heartbreak — injury in 2014, disappointment in 2018, penalty shootout agony in 2022 and, finally, a Round of 16 exit in 2026.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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