Neymar makes major announcement after Brazil's World Cup exit

Brazil's Neymar. Caean Couto-Imagn Images

Neymar makes major announcement after Brazil's World Cup exit

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 6, 2026 12:46 PM ET

Brazil's dreams of a championship at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on Sunday in a 2-1 Round of 16 loss to Norway. Along with that, Neymar's World Cup dreams also came to an end.

The longtime staple on the Brazilian national team announced his retirement from international play following the match.

Neymar scored a penalty kick goal in the 10th minute of stoppage time to give Brazil its only goal in Sunday's match, but it was far too little, far too late to make a difference on the scoreboard.

Neymar retires from Brazil national team having never won World Cup

Neymar appeared in 87 international matches for Brazil, scoring 57 goals.

That includes 15 World Cup matches and nine World Cup goals.

But team success on the biggest stage always escaped him, as he was never able to do what so many of the country's stars before him were able to do — deliver a World Cup championship.

Neymar has announced his retirement from international duty for Brazil. pic.twitter.com/vV9PjUAFLP
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 5, 2026

In his four World Cup appearances, the best team finish they had was a fourth-place finish in 2014.

Since then, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals two times and in the Round of 16 this year.

Neymar began his international career with Brazil in 2010 during an international friendly against the United States in East Rutherford, New Jersey. That also happened to be where he played his final game for the national team.

The only championship he helped lead Brazil to during his time on the national team was at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where he scored four goals in five matches.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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