Neymar, 34, cried on the field at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Right there, in August 2010, he had made his debut wearing Brazil’s jersey as barely a teenager.
This Sunday, July 5, 2026, with the Canarinha eliminated in the World Cup round of 16 after losing 2-1 to Norway, he decided that would be the end.
“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, and I’m ending it here”, he said as soon as the match ended, still in uniform and with his teammates hugging him.
He leaves as Brazil’s all-time top scorer: 130 matches, 80 goals, surpassing Pelé. He played in four World Cups and never managed to lift the trophy. 🏆⚽
He won the Confederations Cup and Olympic gold, but the World Cup always eluded him. This round-of-16 elimination is Brazil’s worst since 1990.