Neymar has announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup. The decision follows Brazil’s last-16 defeat to Norway, marking the end of an 18-year international career for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player. The match, held at MetLife Stadium, saw Brazil’s hopes for a World Cup title conclude.
Neymar, who came on with 25 minutes remaining, scored a penalty in stoppage time, his 80th goal for Brazil and his first international goal in almost three years. However, this goal was only a consolation as Brazil exited the tournament. Visibly emotional after the final whistle, the 34-year-old confirmed his retirement to a Brazilian broadcaster, stating, “I tried. I tried. It started here at MetLife Stadium and I finished here. It is now over.”
Brazil’s World Cup Campaign Ends in Disappointment
The 2-1 defeat against Norway represented Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since a round of 16 knockout in 1990. Fans at MetLife Stadium, many of whom were part of the significant Brazilian diaspora in New Jersey, were seen leaving early and were visibly distraught. The stadium was predominantly filled with Brazil supporters, with approximately 80% of the stands adorned in neon yellow jerseys.
Norway’s Erling Haaland scored twice, with goals in the 79th and 90th minutes, securing the victory for his team. Haaland’s first goal came from a header over Gabriel Magalhães, and his second was a one-touch shot that sealed Brazil’s fate. Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, acknowledged the team’s disappointment, stating that they need to find new ideas and address issues within the midfield.
The match saw several key moments, including a missed penalty in the first half by Bruno Guimarães, a decision defended by Ancelotti based on statistics. Norway’s goalkeeper, Ørjan Nyland, saved the penalty, boosting his team’s confidence. Ancelotti also made a crucial decision to bring on Endrick in the 58th minute, followed by Neymar about 10 minutes later, in an attempt to bolster the offense.
A Decorated but Unfulfilled International Career
Neymar’s international career, which began as an 18-year-old, was marked by high expectations. Despite becoming Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, he concludes his international career without a World Cup winner’s medal, the prize he reportedly desired most. His journey included significant disappointments, such as a fractured vertebra in 2014 that sidelined him during Brazil’s 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.
Other World Cup campaigns also ended in early exits, with Brazil being beaten by Belgium in the 2018 quarter-finals and Croatia in 2022. Persistent injuries, including a serious ACL injury in 2023, impacted the latter stages of his international career, though he returned for what became his final World Cup campaign. Despite individual achievements, Neymar retires with an Olympic gold medal from the Rio 2016 Games and the 2013 Confederations Cup as his major honours with the senior national team.
Ancelotti reflected on the team’s performance, stating that while they didn’t have a spectacular World Cup campaign, it was a good one. He expressed the need for new talent to join Brazilian football to play for the national team in the future. The coach acknowledged the tough energy in the locker room but stated the team would use the defeat as fuel for a new cycle moving forward.
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Source: ca.sports.yahoo.com
As CasinoNews's Sports News Writer, Mason Leclair reports on the CFL, golf and combat sports for readers across the country. He moved from regional papers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Carleton University. Mason lives in Ottawa, where he follows the PGA Tour and mixed martial arts. “Get the facts down first, then add the context.”
