Neymar retires from Brazil after World Cup loss to Norway

Neymar declared his career with Brazil "finished" moments after the five-time World Cup champions were eliminated by Norway 2-1 in the Round of 16 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, bringing the curtain down on a 16-year international career.aljazeera+1

A Farewell at MetLife

The 34-year-old, who came on as a substitute, scored a stoppage-time penalty that proved to be nothing more than a consolation after Erling Haaland struck twice late to seal Norway's upset victory. The match marked Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990.sundayguardianlive+3

"I tried, I tried. Now it's over," Neymar told Brazilian broadcaster Globo after the final whistle. "I started here; I finished here." The forward was visibly emotional, breaking down in tears on the pitch as the weight of the moment settled in.espn+2

Neymar's international debut came at the same venue in 2010, lending a poetic symmetry to the end of his Brazil career. He retires as Brazil's all-time leading men's goalscorer with 80 goals and 59 assists across 130 appearances spanning four World Cups and two Olympic Games.timesofindia.indiatimes+1

Ancelotti's Gamble Falls Short

The defeat raised immediate questions about Carlo Ancelotti's management of the squad. Reuters reported that Brazil spent three years pursuing the Italian coach "as if he carried a golden key to their sixth World Cup," only for the campaign to end in the New Jersey heat with what the wire service described as "a team built on hope, nostalgia and tired legs."reuters

Norway's progression to the quarterfinals was built on Haaland's clinical finishing — a header in the 79th minute broke a prolonged deadlock before a left-footed strike in the 90th minute doubled the lead. Brazil had earlier missed a penalty through Bruno Guimarães, a decision that drew second-guessing after Vinícius Júnior initially had the ball at the spot.sports.yahoo+1

End of an Era

Neymar had signaled earlier this year that 2026 could mark the end of his playing career entirely, telling CazéTV in February that injuries had pushed him into "living year to year" and describing the World Cup as a "final, high-stakes test." His contract with Santos runs through December 2026, though no announcement has been made about his club future.ticotimes

For Brazil's supporters, many of whom were seen weeping in the stands as the final minutes ticked away, Sunday's loss and Neymar's farewell mark the close of a generation that never delivered the sixth title the football-obsessed nation craves.nbcnews