Neymar, the injury-plagued striker and Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, has announced his retirement from international football following Brazil’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup. The 34-year-old made the announcement after Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway in the round of 16, a match held at MetLife Stadium in the United States.

Neymar scored a late penalty after coming on as a substitute but could not prevent Brazil’s exit. He appeared in only two of Brazil’s five matches during the tournament due to a persistent right calf injury, including a 15-minute appearance against Scotland in the group stage.

Reflecting on his international career, Neymar said, “I tried. It started here, at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here.” He played his first game for Brazil on August 10, 2010, in a friendly against the United States at the same stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Brazil’s captain Marquinhos urged fans to support the new generation of players, stating, “We ask that people will have patience with the new generation and support them from the get-go.”

Neymar leaves behind a legacy as Brazil’s top scorer, having scored his first international goal ahead of legendary football icon Pele.

Sources