Brazilian superstar Neymar announced he is ending his international career following the team's 2-1 loss to Norway in the 2026 World Cup round of 16, which eliminated them from the tournament.
After the match, an emotional Neymar said, "I tried. It started here, at MetLife Stadium, and it ended here. It's over now."
The 34-year-old forward made his Brazil debut on August 10, 2010, against the United States at the same venue. Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer.
Neymar, who came on in the final minutes against Norway and scored from the penalty spot, broke down in tears at the final whistle and was consoled by his teammates.
The star player, who battled injuries throughout the tournament, appeared in only two of Brazil's five matches. A right calf injury also limited him to just 15 minutes in the group stage match against Scotland.
With Neymar's farewell, which comes after years of being hampered by injuries, Brazil enters a transition to a new generation. Team captain Marquinhos said, "We ask people to be patient with the new generation and support them from the start."