Neymar scored Brazil’s only goal from a stoppage-time penalty, but it was not enough to prevent the five-time world champions from suffering a shock exit.
An Emotional Farewell
Speaking after the match, an emotional Neymar confirmed that his journey with Brazil had come to an end.
“I tried, I tried… Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here,” he said, referring to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the same venue where he made his Brazil debut in 2010.
A Historic International Career
Neymar retires as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 international appearances.
The 34-year-old represented Brazil at four FIFA World Cups and spent more than a decade as the face of the national team. Despite numerous club trophies, his only major senior international title was the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
End of an Era
Brazil’s defeat to Norway marked the nation’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990 and extended its wait for a sixth world title, with the Seleção now enduring its longest World Cup trophy drought in modern history.
Neymar’s retirement closes one of the most memorable chapters in Brazilian football, ending a remarkable 16-year international career that inspired millions of fans around the world.
