Brazilian football icon Neymar has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a 16-year spell with the national team in the aftermath of Brazil’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 34-year-old Santos forward confirmed his decision after helping his club to a 4-2 victory over Universidad Central in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana knockout-round playoff, ending months of speculation about whether he would continue representing the Seleção.
Reflecting on his international journey, Neymar said he had reached the point where he no longer wished to wear Brazil’s colours despite describing his time with the national team as one of fulfilment and sacrifice.
“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,” he said.
Neymar’s final outing for Brazil came in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Norway. Although he converted a stoppage-time penalty, Brazil suffered a 2-1 defeat that ended their campaign and dashed hopes of securing a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
His retirement closes the chapter on one of the most decorated international careers in Brazilian football. Neymar leaves as the country’s highest-scoring men’s player with 80 international goals, surpassing the previous record of 77 held by the late Pelé.
Since making his senior debut in 2010, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star represented Brazil at four FIFA World Cups, several Copa América tournaments, the FIFA Confederations Cup and the Olympic Games.
He played a key role in Brazil’s triumph at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and captained the team to its first-ever Olympic men’s football gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games.
Persistent injury setbacks, however, often interrupted his international career. At the 2026 World Cup, a grade two calf injury sustained while playing for Santos sidelined him for Brazil’s opening two group-stage matches.
He later returned from the bench against Scotland in the final group game before making his last appearance in the knockout defeat to Norway, where his late penalty became the final goal of his international career.
Neymar’s departure marks the end of an era for the five-time world champions as Brazil begins a transition towards a new generation of players ahead of future international competitions.
