Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Neymar breaks down in tears as he retires from international football

Neymar breaks down in tears as he retires from international football

Brazilian football superstar Neymar broke down in tears after Brazil's heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup before announcing his retirement from international football.

The 34-year-old came off the bench to score Brazil's only goal from the penalty spot in the closing stages of the match, but it was not enough to prevent the five-time world champions from crashing out of the tournament.

An emotional Neymar confirmed after the final whistle that he had played his last match for the Brazilian national team.

"It is now over," Neymar said, adding that although it was painful to end his international career in such a heartbreaking manner, he believed it was the right time to step away.

The announcement brings an end to a remarkable international career spanning more than 16 years. Neymar retires as Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 80 goals in 130 appearances, surpassing the legendary Pelé.

He represented Brazil at four FIFA World Cups and played a key role in the country's Olympic gold medal triumph at the Rio 2016 Games. Neymar also helped Brazil win the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and remained one of Brazil's biggest football stars for more than a decade.

Reacting to the defeat, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti described the result as heartbreaking but said the team must now focus on rebuilding for the future.

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