Neymar told beIN Sports on Wednesday that his retirement from the Brazil national team is final, using blunt language that left little room for interpretation.
“I made history, I was very happy, I gave my blood, my life, I always fought for the yellow jersey, but now I don’t want to anymore,” the 34-year-old said after Santos’ 4-2 Copa Sudamericana win over Venezuelan side Universidad Central.
He also told the broadcaster, plainly:
“My time with the national team is over.”
Read also: Spain’s teenage world champion greeted the king like a teammate, and Felipe VI played along
The 130-cap forward had first walked away on July 5, in the immediate wake of Brazil’s 2-1 round-of-16 defeat to Norway at MetLife Stadium.
Wednesday’s interview shut down any lingering suggestion that time or distance would change his mind.
The Norway exit that ended it
Neymar came on as a substitute in East Rutherford and got Brazil a lifeline from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time.
It made no difference to the result but stood as his 80th international goal, and it turned out to be his last kick for the Seleção.
Read also: Stones and Rice pranked Tuchel with a fake injury and 20 million watched
He made only two substitute appearances at the tournament, Fox Sports reported, the other a 76th-minute cameo in the 3-0 group-stage win over Scotland.
Thierry Henry, working as a pundit that night, said of him: “This is a guy I would’ve paid to watch. Simple as that.”
Zlatan Ibrahimović was more equivocal on the same broadcast, saying Neymar would be remembered as “the great footballer that came over to Europe” but that people would say he “could’ve done more”.
Numbers only Cafu bettered
Only Cafu, with 142 caps, has represented Brazil more often.
Read also: Doctors said his brain tumours could not be removed, then he reached a final at home
The 80 goals leave Neymar three clear of Pelé at the top of the Seleção’s all-time list, and make him only the second Brazilian to score at four different World Cups. The other, again, is Pelé.
Ancelotti’s rebuild begins
Carlo Ancelotti remains in the job after signing a contract extension through the 2030 World Cup, and the Italian will build the next cycle without the player who has led Brazil’s attack for most of the past decade.
Neymar spent Wednesday night defending his conduct at Santos against reports that he had berated younger team-mates in the dressing room after a 2-2 draw with Chapecoense.
“It’s sad and annoying, but it’s not my fault,” he said. “These stories reach a lot of people.”
Read also: 'Don't ask me hard questions, I'm tipsy': Sinner's Wimbledon gala confession
His international career, at least, is no longer up for debate.
Read also: She was thrown into the street with her daughters, 14 years later she won gold in Glasgow
