Houston, July 6:
Neymar announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s World Cup campaign ended in a painful 2-1 defeat to Norway in the round of 16, marking another heartbreaking exit for one of the country’s most gifted but most debated bunch of footballers.
The 34-year-old, who had long carried Brazil’s hopes of a sixth World Cup title, was emotional after the match and suggested that his journey with the national team had reached its end. Speaking to geTV after the defeat, Neymar said: “I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I closed it here.”
Earlier, Norway produced a stunning upset in the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16 to book a historic place in the quarterfinals. The match remained tense for most of the game, with Brazil creating several chances but failing to convert, including a missed penalty by Bruno Guimarães.