On July 6, Beijing time, in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the Brazil team was defeated by Norway with a score of 1-2 and was eliminated. According to The Associated Press, Neymar, who scored one goal for Brazil in this match, hinted after the game that this might be his last match for the Brazilian national team.
Neymar said in an interview with Brazilian media: "I tried hard, really went all out, but it's all over now. I set off from here, and this is also the end of my career." It is widely believed that Neymar's statement amounts to an announcement that he will retire from the Brazilian national team.
On July 6th, Beijing time, after Brazil lost 1-2 to Norway, Neymar knelt in tears. IC photo
The “here” he mentioned refers to the MetLife Stadium in the United States. In August 2010, during a friendly match between the Brazilian team and the American team, Neymar made his national team debut at the MetLife Stadium, scoring his first goal for the national team. Now, this stadium has become a place of separation, as Neymar concluded his national team career here.
The 34-year-old Neymar has played 130 matches for the Brazilian national team, scoring 80 goals, making him the most prolific goalkeeper in Brazilian team history. During this World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Neymar appeared in two matches. In the second half of the round-of-16 match against Norway, Neymar came on as a substitute and scored a penalty goal in the final minute, but it was not enough to prevent the team from losing.
As the Brazilian team lost 1-2 to Norway, they were eliminated from this World Cup, setting a record for the earliest elimination in the team's history since 1990.
