Brazilian football icon Neymar Jr. has officially announced his retirement from international football, ending a remarkable 16-year career with the Seleção following Brazil’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old Santos forward confirmed his decision after his side’s 4-2 victory over Universidad Central in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana knockout round playoffs, bringing months of speculation about a possible return to the national team to an end.
“My time with the national team is over. I made history, I was very happy, I gave my blood, my life. I always fought for the yellow jersey, but now I don’t want to anymore,” Neymar told reporters.
Neymar’s final appearance for Brazil came in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Norway. He converted a stoppage-time penalty, but it was not enough to prevent Brazil from suffering a 2-1 defeat, ending the nation’s hopes of winning a sixth World Cup title.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star bows out as Brazil’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer with 80 international goals, surpassing Pelé’s long-standing record of 77.
Since making his senior debut in 2010, Neymar represented Brazil in four FIFA World Cups, several Copa América tournaments, the FIFA Confederations Cup, and the Olympic Games. He played a key role in Brazil’s 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup triumph and captained the team to its first-ever Olympic men’s football gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games.
His international career, however, was often disrupted by injuries, particularly at World Cups. A grade two calf muscle injury suffered while playing for Santos ruled him out of Brazil’s opening two matches at the 2026 tournament. He later returned as a substitute in the final group-stage game against Scotland before making his final appearance in the last-16 defeat to Norway, where he scored the last goal of his international career.
Neymar’s retirement marks the end of one of the most accomplished international careers in Brazilian football history, leaving behind a legacy of goals, records, and unforgettable moments while ushering in a new generation to lead the five-time world champions.
