Neymar has confirmed his retirement from international football after Brazil’s World Cup campaign came to an end.
Brazil were knocked out of the tournament following a 2-1 defeat to Norway, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to help his side reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time, but the late goal only served as a consolation in what proved to be his final appearance for the Selecao.
The Brazilian icon also became just the second player from Brazil to score in four separate World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), matching the feat achieved by Pele.
Introduced from the bench to a loud ovation, Neymar bows out as Brazil’s record goalscorer with 80 goals in 130 appearances. Only Cafu, with 142 caps, has represented the national team more times.
The 34-year-old endured an injury-hit build-up to the tournament and featured only twice as a substitute, having also come off the bench against Scotland in Brazil’s final group-stage fixture, before deciding to end his international career.
“I tried; I tried. Now it’s over,” Neymar, who made his debut against the United States in 2010, told Globo. “I started here; I finished here.”
Brazil had the opportunity to take the lead in the first half, but Bruno Guimaraes saw his first-ever penalty for the national team saved by Orjan Nyland. Substitute Endrick also squandered a clear one-on-one opportunity.
The defeat means Brazil have suffered their earliest World Cup exit since 1990, when Argentina eliminated them in the round of 16. Before this edition, the Selecao had progressed to at least the quarter-finals in each of their previous eight World Cup appearances.
Norway also maintained their remarkable unbeaten record against Brazil, remaining the only nation the five-time world champions have faced without ever recording a victory. Across five meetings, Norway have won three times, with the other two ending in draws.
“Obviously, everyone is deeply disappointed, considering what happened,” Ancelotti said.
“I don’t think we have had a spectacular World Cup, but we had a good one. I think we even deserved to win the game.
“You have to digest a defeat like this. This has been a new adventure. Now we need to keep earning our places, keep trying to improve.
“What I can say, what we can do and what we are going to do, is keep working hard for the national team, keep trying to improve and find new ideas.
“I think we have done a good job, but this is football, and this is sport. You just have to deal with it, deal with the sadness and the taste of defeat.
“I am very much used to this, and we will handle this. We will use it as fuel going forward.”
