‘It’s over’, Neymar announces retirement after Brazil crash out of World Cup

NEW JERSEY: The country's two and a half decades of waiting remains unfulfilled once again. Brazil was eliminated from the World Cup after losing to Norway in the pre-quarterfinals. Neymar subsequently announced his retirement from international football. Neymar Jr played his final match in the same place where he began his more than a decade-and-a-half-long international career. Neymar's sudden departure came after he scored his only goal of the World Cup through a penalty in injury time against Norway.

‘I tried, I tried, I started here at MetLife Stadium, I closed it here. It's over,’ Neymar told reporters after the match. Neymar left the field in tears after Brazil's elimination. Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Norway continued their 24-year-long World Cup unbeaten run. Their last victory came against Germany in 2002. Neymar da Silva Santos Jr., 34, has scored 80 goals in 129 matches since his debut at MetLife Stadium in 2010. Neymar missed his first World Cup games due to injury. He came on as a second-half substitute against Scotland. He also scored a second-half goal against Norway. Neymar last played for Brazil in this World Cup after being injured in October 2023. Neymar's return was a disappointment, as his dream of a World Cup was not realized.