Brazilian football icon Neymar has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to one of the most celebrated careers in the history of the Brazil national team. The 34-year-old forward made the emotional announcement after Brazil’s disappointing elimination from the FIFA World Cup, saying he no longer intends to represent his country at the international level. Speaking to reporters after Santos secured a 4-2 victory over Venezuelan side UCV in the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday, Neymar reflected on his journey with the national team and admitted that the time had come to move on. “My time with the national team is over. I made history, I was very happy, and I gave my blood and my life for Brazil. But now, I don’t want it anymore,” Neymar said, struggling to hold back tears as he addressed the media. Brazil’s World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak following a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16. Neymar scored Brazil’s only goal from the penalty spot, but it was not enough to prevent the five-time world champions from crashing out of the tournament earlier than expected. After the final whistle, the veteran forward emotionally confirmed that his international career had come to an end, saying simply, “It ends here.” The tournament marked Neymar’s return to the Brazil squad after an absence of nearly three years. Despite his reputation and experience, he featured for only 37 minutes across two World Cup matches, as the coaching staff carefully managed his playing time. Although his comeback generated excitement among supporters, Brazil’s early exit prevented him from making a greater impact on the competition. Neymar leaves international football as Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of the country’s greatest-ever players. Throughout his career with the national team, he played a central role in numerous international tournaments, producing memorable performances and becoming one of the most recognizable figures in world football. His technical brilliance, creativity, and ability to score spectacular goals earned him admiration from fans across the globe. While his chapter with Brazil has come to a close, Neymar’s club career continues. He remains under contract with Santos until the end of the year as the Brazilian club battles to avoid relegation. Since returning to his boyhood club, Neymar has shown flashes of the quality that made him one of football’s biggest stars. Earlier this month, he scored twice in his first match back for Santos, delivering an impressive performance in response to criticism surrounding his recent off-field activities. Following one of his goals, Neymar celebrated with a card-dealing gesture, a light-hearted reference to the backlash he received after participating in a poker tournament while Santos were playing an away Copa Sudamericana fixture in Venezuela. For Tuesday’s second-leg clash against UCV, Neymar began the match on the substitutes’ bench. Even without him in the starting lineup, Santos produced a confident display and recorded a 4-2 victory to comfortably book their place in the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16. Although Neymar’s international career has ended on a disappointing note, his achievements with Brazil have secured his place among the nation’s football legends. His legacy will be remembered for his record-breaking goals, unforgettable performances, and his lasting influence on Brazilian football.
