Neymar retires from Brazil duty after Norway knock Seleção out of World Cup

Neymar brought an end to his Brazil career on Sunday, announcing his international retirement moments after the Seleção were knocked out of the World Cup by Norway in a 2-1 round-of-16 defeat at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

“I tried,” Neymar said. “It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over.” The 34-year-old’s first cap for Brazil came at the same ground on 10 August 2010, a friendly against the United States, making the venue a bookend to a 15-year international career.

Neymar had been restricted to just two appearances across Brazil’s five tournament games due to a nagging right calf injury. He came off the bench against Norway and converted a penalty in the closing minutes, but it was not enough to prevent the upset. He had also featured for 15 minutes in the group-stage match against Scotland.

Norway’s victory owed much to goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, who was only starting because FIFA blocked fellow keeper Nikita Haikin from switching international allegiance from Russia to Norway in May, citing residency rule requirements. The 35-year-old Nyland, out of contract after leaving Sevilla, seized his opportunity with a commanding display — saving an early penalty from Bruno Guimarães before repeatedly denying Vinícius Jr. and others, including a remarkable backwards flick onto the far post to prevent a Kristoffer Ajer own goal.

Erling Haaland scored the goals that sealed Norway’s progress, but Nyland’s performance laid the groundwork for one of the tournament’s biggest results.

For Brazil, the defeat signals the start of a new era. Captain Marquinhos called on supporters to back the emerging generation. “We ask that people will have the patience with the new generation and support them from the get-go,” he said.

Neymar had been Brazil’s defining player for more than a decade, but a series of serious injuries in recent years steadily eroded his influence at club and international level. His final act in a yellow shirt — a penalty goal as a substitute — was a fitting if bittersweet coda to a record-breaking international career.