'It's over': Neymar signals Brazil farewell after shock FIFA World Cup defeat to Norway

Published Updated
Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks dejected after the match as Brazil are eliminated from the World Cup by Norway, July 5, 2026, New Jersey. — Reuters
Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks dejected after the match as Brazil are eliminated from the World Cup by Norway, July 5, 2026, New Jersey. — Reuters
Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks dejected and is comforted by teammates after the match as Brazil are eliminated from the World Cup by Norway, July 5, 2026, New Jersey. — Reuters
Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks dejected and is comforted by teammates after the match as Brazil are eliminated from the World Cup by Norway, July 5, 2026, New Jersey. — Reuters
Neymar reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Brazil and Norway at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 5, 2026. —AFP
Neymar reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Brazil and Norway at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 5, 2026. —AFP

Brazilian star footballer Neymar Jr. suggested he may have played his final match for Brazil after scoring in their defeat by Norway in the World Cup round of 16 on Sunday.

The forward converted a stoppage-time penalty in Brazil’s 2-1 loss, a result that eliminated the five-times champions and extended their wait for a sixth World Cup title.

Speaking briefly after the match to Bruno Formiga, a pundit for Brazilian channel GE TV, Neymar indicated that his tenure with Brazil had come to an end.

“I tried, I tried… Now it’s over! I started here, I finished here,” Neymar said, referring to the stadium in New Jersey, where he made his Brazil debut in a friendly against the United States in 2010.

The 34-year-old was moved to tears after the match. It was the national team’s worst World Cup performance since 1990.

Brazil are now heading towards their longest spell without a World Cup title since they first won the tournament. By 2030, they will have gone 28 years without lifting the trophy.

If Neymar Jr. confirms his international retirement, he will end his Brazil career with 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 appearances.

Neymar has won multiple titles at club level but his only senior trophy with Brazil was the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Opinion

Editorial

Islamic banking
Updated 06 Jul, 2026

Islamic banking

THE roadmap for eliminating riba from Pakistan’s financial system from 2028 offers some clarity on how the...
Prison reforms
06 Jul, 2026

Prison reforms

IF nothing else, it was good to see the four provincial chief executives sharing a common platform. The chief...
Preserving Taxila
06 Jul, 2026

Preserving Taxila

TAXILA is far more than a collection of ancient ruins. It is one of South Asia’s greatest archaeological ...
Iran’s resilience
Updated 05 Jul, 2026

Iran’s resilience

THE funeral ceremonies for Iran’s assassinated supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, which...
The annual test
05 Jul, 2026

The annual test

PAKISTAN enters another monsoon season with little room for complacency. Last year’s rains claimed more than 1,000...
Dangerous syringes
05 Jul, 2026

Dangerous syringes

INNOCENCE stands overwhelmed by another health emergency. The HIV crisis, beyond surging statistics — over 350,000...