Neymar has hinted that his Brazil career is over after a 2-1 loss to Norway knocked the five-time champions out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the last Round of 16.
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The former Barcelona and PSG star, born Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, came on as a late substitute at MetLife Stadium and scored a penalty deep in injury time, but that was a mere consolation after Erling Haaland netted twice for Norway.
The 34-year-old is Brazil’s all-time top scorer and ironically got his first goal for his country in the same stadium, in a 2-0 win against the United States back in 2010.
“I tried, and I tried. Now it’s over. It began here, and it ends here,” Neymar said in a brief exchange with a journalist from Brazil’s Globo Esporte after the game.
The Brazilian collapsed in tears when the final whistle went, and had to be consoled by teammates.
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Worn down by injuries in recent years, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, now back at his first club Santos, was a surprise inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup.
Injury prevented him from featuring in Brazil’s first two group games at the tournament, but he did come on in the 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami, United States, which completed the opening round.
That was his first international appearance since October 2023, but his only other appearance in the United States came on Sunday against Norway.
– AFP
Originally published by Soccermag.
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