That is all for the international soccer career of Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr.
A shocking 2-1 loss to Erling Haaland and Norway in the Round of 16 on Sunday afternoon not only broke Brazil’s heart but also marked the last time fans will ever see Neymar Jr. don the green and yellow.
Neymar Jr. confirmed as much after the defeat:
“I tried. I tried. It started here at MetLife stadium and I finished here. It is now over,”
Fans may remember that he initially said Qatar 2022 would be his last, however, Neymar Jr. returned for the 2026 World Cup, albeit in a very limited capacity.
A right calf injury limited the superstar forward, who made a brief 14-minute appearance during the group stage against Scotland before supposedly being available to play the full match against Norway, according to head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“Neymar can play 90 minutes and he can play with Vinicius Jr. I think they will play together,”
That wasn’t the case after all, as Neymar Jr. didn’t enter the match until the 67th minute. He played out the rest of the game, scoring Brazil’s lone goal on a last-minute penalty kick.

The 34-year-old Neymar Jr. finishes his World Cup career with nine goals and four assists in 15 appearances across four tournaments.
A fourth place finish in his World Cup debut in 2014 will wind up being his best, as Quarterfinal exits in 2018 and 2022, along with this Round of 16 loss, marked the end of his other three campaigns.
It’s a heartbreaking and disappointing way for such a talented player’s international career to conclude, especially with the injury barely allowing him to play in his farewell tournament.
His club team, Santos FC of the Brazilian Serie A, returns to action on Thursday, July 16, though his status remains very much uncertain as he continues to recover from the ailment.
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