Neymar announces Brazil retirement after World Cup exit
Brazil star Neymar has played his last international game
Neymar has announced his retirement from international football.
Brazil's World Cup journey ended at the round-of-16 stage in a shock defeat to Norway that proved to be the last game of Neymar's career with his homeland.
The forward scored a very late consolation strike for Carlo Ancelotti's side deep in stoppage time from the penalty spot to salvage a more flattering 2-1 score line.
That strike proved to be Neymar's first goal for the Selecao since 2023 and extended his record as the country's all-time record men's goal scorer with 80.
It also brought his journey full-circle after scoring on his 2010 international debut at the same MetLife Stadium that saw his fourth consecutive World Cup.
The world's most expensive footballer was a surprise inclusion in Ancelotti's squad for his fourth consecutive World Cup but only managed two substitute appearances.
He was unavailable for Brazil's opening two group matches against Morocco and Haiti due to a calf injury which also ruled him out of the warm-up friendlies.
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Neymar found himself as an unused substitute as the four-time world champions dramatically edged past Japan in the round-of-32 at Houston Stadium.
This summer's tournament was widely expected to be the 34-year-old's final one in the iconic yellow shirt and fuelled by his social media post hinting at a 'last dance'.
But after losing to an Erling Haaland-inspired display, Neymar was visibly distraught as he fought back tears and waved to his supporters in the wake of their elimination.
He later confirmed to Brazilian media that he had played his last international game.
"I tried, I tried. Now it's over," he told Globo TV. "I started here, I finished here."
Despite his heartache, Neymar made history for Brazil by becoming only their second player after the legendary Pele to score in four World Cup tournaments.