Neymar announced his retirement from international football on Sunday after Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, ending a national team career that made him the country’s all-time leading scorer.
The 34-year-old confirmed his decision after Brazil’s elimination at MetLife Stadium, where Norway advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time.
“I tried. I tried. It started here at MetLife Stadium and I finished here. It is now over,” Neymar told reporters after the match.
Neymar fell to the pitch in tears after the final whistle and was consoled by teammates as Brazil’s World Cup campaign came to an end.
He scored Brazil’s only goal from the penalty spot in the 10th minute of stoppage time, but the late effort was not enough to prevent the five-time World Cup champions from exiting the tournament.
Neymar retires with 80 goals in 130 appearances for Brazil, finishing as the nation’s all-time leading scorer. He made his senior debut in 2010 after beginning his professional career with Santos in 2009.
During his international career, Neymar helped Brazil win the men’s football gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and featured in multiple FIFA World Cup tournaments. His retirement marks the end of more than a decade with the national team and closes one of the most prolific international careers in Brazilian football history.
