Neymar has hinted that his international career with Brazil is over following the Seleção's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement that Neymar retires from Brazil came moments after the final whistle at the MetLife Stadium, where the Brazilian star struggled to hold back tears following his country's elimination from the tournament.
Neymar came off the bench late in the match and scored a penalty deep into stoppage time, but it was only a consolation as Erling Haaland's brace secured a famous victory for Norway and ended Brazil's World Cup campaign.
Speaking briefly to Globo Esporte after the match, the 34-year-old suggested his time with the national team had come to an end.
"I tried and I tried. Now it's over. It began here and it ends here."
The emotional forward was seen collapsing in tears after the final whistle and was comforted by teammates as Brazil's hopes of winning a sixth World Cup title came to an end.
Neymar remains Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, and the stadium where he made what could be his final international appearance also holds special significance in his career.
It was at the same venue that he scored his first goal for Brazil during a 2-0 victory over the United States in 2010.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star returned to his boyhood club Santos after battling a series of injuries in recent years.
His inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad had surprised many fans, as injuries had limited his appearances before the tournament.
Fitness issues ruled him out of Brazil's opening two group-stage matches.
However, he made his long-awaited international return as a substitute during Brazil's 3-0 victory over Scotland in Miami before featuring again against Norway in the knockout stage.
Before this World Cup, Neymar had not represented Brazil since October 2023, making his comeback one of the biggest talking points ahead of the tournament.
While the Brazilian Football Confederation has not officially confirmed his retirement, Neymar's emotional remarks strongly suggest that his remarkable international journey has reached its conclusion.
If confirmed, Neymar retires from Brazil as one of the greatest players in the nation's football history, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy defined by goals, memorable performances and years of service to the five-time world champions.
Disclaimer: Comments and opinions on any part of this website are the opinions of blog commenters or anonymous individuals, and do not reflect Strenuous Blog position.