Neymar Announces Retirement From International Football at  34

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian football icon Neymar Jr. has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 16-year career with the Seleção after Brazil’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 34-year-old Santos forward confirmed the decision following his team’s 4-2 victory over Universidad Central in the Copa Sudamericana knockout playoffs.

He stated that his journey with the national team was over, reflecting on his contributions and dedication to wearing the yellow jersey. Neymar made his final appearance for Brazil in the Round of 16 match against Norway at the 2026 World Cup. He scored a late penalty, but Brazil lost 2-1, ending the country’s bid for a sixth World Cup title. The former Barcelona and PSG forward leaves the national team as Brazil’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer with 80 goals, surpassing Pelé’s previous record of 77. Since debuting in 2010, Neymar played in four World Cups, several Copa América tournaments, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, which Brazil won, and the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he captained the team to its first Olympic men’s football gold medal as injuries affected much of his international career. A calf injury kept him out of Brazil’s first two matches at the 2026 World Cup. He returned as a substitute against Scotland in the group stage and again in the defeat to Norway, where he scored his last goal for Brazil. With Neymar’s exit, one of Brazil’s most successful football careers comes to a close, as attention now shifts to the next generation of players for the five-time world champions.

Written by News Room