Neymar confirms Brazil retirement after 2026 FIFA World Cup exit as Selecao record goalscorer ends international career - 'My time has passed'
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Published 29/07/2026 at 20:47 GMT+1
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Neymar has effectively confirmed his retirement from international football, declaring he no longer wants to represent Brazil just weeks after signalling that his World Cup appearance against Norway would be his last in the famous yellow shirt.
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The 34-year-old, who leaves the international stage as Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, made the announcement after coming off the bench in Santos' 4-2 Copa Sudamericana victory over Venezuela's Universidad Central.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Neymar admitted he feels his journey with the national team has come to an end despite calls from his father, Neymar da Silva Santos Sr., for him to continue playing for Brazil.
"I think my time with the national team has already passed. I made history there, and I'm very happy about it.
"I experienced a lot there, gave my blood and my life, and always fought and battled for the yellow jersey. But I don't think I want it any more," said Neymar, who has featured in four World Cups.
The comments leave little doubt that the forward has closed the door on an international career that spanned more than 15 years and saw him become one of the greatest players ever to represent Brazil.
Neymar finishes with 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 appearances, surpassing Pele to become his country's leading scorer while also establishing himself as one of the defining figures of his generation.
His latest remarks reinforce the emotional scenes that followed Brazil's 2-1 defeat by Norway in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Introduced from the bench, Neymar converted a stoppage-time penalty to briefly give Brazil hope before the final whistle confirmed the nation's earliest World Cup exit since 1990.
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Neymar is already back playing club football with Santos
Image credit: Getty Images
Visibly devastated after the match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Neymar struggled to contain his emotions as he reflected on what he believed would be his final appearance for the Selecao.
"I tried, I tried. Now it's over," he said in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
That World Cup appearance itself marked a remarkable comeback. Neymar had not represented Brazil since October 2023 after suffering a serious knee injury, tearing both the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee while on international duty.
The lengthy rehabilitation cast doubt over whether he would feature at another major tournament, but an impressive return to action with Santos convinced Brazil's coaching staff he could still play a role at the World Cup.
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Neymar finishes with 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 appearances
Image credit: Getty Images
Although Brazil's campaign ended earlier than expected, Neymar was able to make one final appearance on football's biggest stage before deciding the time had come to step away from international football.
While his club career brought extraordinary success with Santos, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, his achievements with Brazil were comparatively limited in terms of major silverware.
Despite helping the Selecao reach the latter stages of multiple tournaments and becoming their greatest-ever goalscorer, Neymar lifted only one senior international trophy, captaining Brazil to victory in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup on home soil.
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Even so, his impact on the national team extended far beyond medals. Alongside his appearance at four World Cups, Neymar was part of multiple Copa America campaigns and, for more than a decade, was Brazil's talisman.
His announcement also comes at the beginning of a new era for Brazilian football. Carlo Ancelotti has resumed work as Brazil head coach following the World Cup and is expected to oversee a transition towards a younger squad ahead of international friendlies later this year and the start of qualification for the 2030 World Cup.
In scoring against Norway, former Barcelona star Neymar became only the second player after Pele to score at four different World Cups, finding the net in the 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments.
Only full-back Cafu, with 142 caps, has represented the Selecao more often. With his international career now over, Neymar's full focus will turn to Santos, the boyhood club where his professional journey began.
The forward is under contract until December, although reports in Brazil have suggested he is not expected to extend his stay beyond the end of the current deal, leaving his club future uncertain.
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