Neymar signals Brazil farewell after World Cup defeat to Norway

Neymar said his time with Brazil has come to an end after the national team’s 2-1 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Norway at MetLife Stadium. Erling Haaland scored both Norway goals, while Neymar’s late penalty was only a consolation for Brazil.

If confirmed as his final international appearance, Neymar leaves with one of the most decorated statistical records in Brazil history: 80 goals, the national scoring record, and 130 caps, second only to Cafu. His penalty also made him the second Brazilian man after Pelé to score at four World Cups.

The ending carried a symbolic weight because Neymar’s Brazil debut also came at MetLife Stadium in 2010, when he scored in a friendly against the United States. This tournament, however, was shaped by a lingering right calf issue that limited him to two appearances across Brazil’s five matches.

For Brazil, the defeat represents both a sporting shock and a generational turning point. The exit is reported as the country’s earliest at a World Cup since 1990, and coach Carlo Ancelotti framed the result as a painful moment that must feed the next cycle.