Neymar bids farewell to World Cup

EAST RUTHERFORD, United States, July 06 (Agencies): Brazil superstar Neymar indicated Sunday that his international career was over after the five-time World Cup winners went out of the tournament in the last 16 at the hands of Norway.

Neymar came on as a late substitute at the MetLife Stadium and scored a penalty deep in injury time, but that was a mere consolation after Erling Haaland netted twice for Norway, and Brazil lost 2-1.

The 34-year-old is Brazil's all-time top scorer and ironically he 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.

He collapsed in tears when the final whistle went, and had to be consoled by teammates. Worn down by injuries in recent years, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, now back at 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 which completed the opening round.

That was his first international appearance since October 2023, but his only other appearance in the United States came Monday (as per BST) against Norway.

Neymar appeared in only two of Brazil’s five games in the tournament due to a nagging right calf injury. He was also on the field for 15 minutes against Scotland in group play. Brazil’s best player for more than a decade had been slowed by injuries in recent years that limited his impact.

The country is now entering a period of transition, with the next generation taking over.