EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. : Neymar announced his retirement from international football on Sunday after Brazil’s shock 2-1 defeat by Norway ended their World Cup campaign in the last 16.
The 34-year-old forward, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 80 goals in 129 appearances, brought the curtain down on a 16-year international career after converting a stoppage-time penalty in what proved to be his final appearance for the five-times world champions.
“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over,” Neymar told Globo after the match.
“I started here; I finished here.”
Neymar, who made his Brazil debut in 2010, was visibly emotional after the final whistle at MetLife Stadium, where teammates attempted to console him following the team’s elimination.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, who now plays for Santos, said he would continue his club career while assessing his future season by season.
Brazil’s defeat extended their wait for a sixth World Cup title, with their last triumph coming in 2002, and continued their poor knockout record against European opponents at the tournament.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti, however, insisted the defeat should serve as motivation rather than signal the end of his project.
“Obviously everyone is deeply disappointed, considering what happened,” Ancelotti said.
“I don’t think we have had a spectacular World Cup, but we had a good one. I think we even deserved to win the game today.”
Norway secured a historic victory through two late goals from Erling Haaland after goalkeeper Orjan Nyland had saved an early penalty from Bruno Guimaraes. Neymar’s injury-time penalty reduced the deficit but came too late to alter the outcome.
“You have to digest a defeat like this. This has been a new adventure. Now we need to keep earning our places, keep trying to improve,” Ancelotti said.
The Italian, who took charge just over a year ago and is under contract through the 2030 World Cup, dismissed suggestions he could step down following Brazil’s early exit.
“I don’t think this is the end. I think this is the start of a new cycle,” he said.
“I think with the squad they have, Brazil could have competed right to the end of this World Cup, even considering what happened in today’s game.”
