Brazilian football star Neymar has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on one of the most celebrated careers in the history of football.
Visibly emotional after the final whistle, the 34-year-old struggled to hold back tears as he addressed reporters. "I tried. I tried. It started here and I finished here. It is now over," Neymar said, confirming that he would no longer represent Brazil at the international level. "I think my time with the national team has already passed. I made history there, and I'm very happy about it. I experienced a lot there, gave my blood and my life, and always fought and battled for the yellow jersey. But I don't think I want it anymore," the 34-year-old forward, Brazil's all-time leading scorer, told reporters after Santos beat Venezuela's Universidad Central 4-2 in a Copa Sudamericana match.
The forward played in four World Cups and enjoyed an engaging club career with Santos, Barcelona and Paris St Germain.
Throughout his international career, Neymar netted 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 appearances. He also became the second Brazilian player after Pele to score in four different FIFA World Cups.
Recurring injuries in recent years limited his appearances and affected his form leading into the 2026 World Cup. Despite those setbacks, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti included him in the squad.
Brazil's early exit from the tournament made Neymar's farewell even more poignant. Norway, inspired by Erling Haaland's brilliant performance, eliminated the five-time world champions in one of the biggest upsets of the competition. Brazil's heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Norway in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 marked the end of Neymar's 16-year journey in the famous yellow jersey.
