Neymar has announced his retirement from international football for Brazil, bringing an end to a decorated career with the national team. The forward, aged 34, confirmed his decision on July 6, 2026, following Brazil’s unexpected 2-1 defeat to Norway in the last-16 tie of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Paris Saint-Germain star made his announcement to TV Globo, stating, “I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here.” His final appearance for the Seleção saw him come on as a 67th-minute substitute against Norway, where he scored a late penalty that proved to be a mere consolation goal.

A career of records and milestones

Neymar departs the international stage as Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, a testament to his prolificacy over more than a decade. His impressive statistics include:

• All-time leading goalscorer: 80 goals

• Second on the all-time appearances list: 130 caps

• Played in four FIFA World Cups: 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026

His 130 appearances place him second only to legendary defender Cafu, who holds the record with 142 caps for Brazil.

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From debut to farewell at the same stadium

Remarkably, Neymar’s international career began and ended at the same venue. His debut for Brazil came in August 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium, now MetLife Stadium, in a friendly against the United States. Then an 18-year-old prodigy, he marked the occasion with a goal, scoring a header in the 28th minute from an André Santos cross. Brazil went on to win that match 2-0, which also marked Mano Menezes’ managerial debut victory for the national team, as reported by MLSSoccer.com.

His journey with the national team saw him become a global icon, carrying the hopes of a football-mad nation through multiple major tournaments. However, his final World Cup campaign was marred by limited playing time following struggles with injuries in the years leading up to the tournament. Neymar had not featured for Brazil since 2023 before being called up for the 2026 squad.

At the 2026 World Cup, his only other outing apart from the Norway match was a late substitute appearance in Brazil’s final group game, a 3-0 victory over Scotland. His retirement, reported by BBC Sport, marks the end of an era for Brazilian football, as one of its most celebrated talents steps away from the international arena.

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