Neymar’s tenure with the Brazilian national team has officially come to an end. After Santos qualified for the Round of 16 in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, the forward reaffirmed the decision he had already made following the Canarinha’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup and confirmed that he will not wear his country’s jersey again.
With that, Brazil bids farewell to one of the most important players in its recent history, a star of a generation that dreamed of winning a World Cup but was never able to achieve that goal despite competing in four consecutive World Cups between 2014 and 2026.
Neymar’s international career began right here in New Jersey, where he scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly against the United States. Years later, on that same field, he scored his final goal for Brazil on a penalty kick during the loss to Norway that sealed their elimination from the 2026 World Cup and marked the definitive end of his time with the Verdeamarela.
Throughout his career, Neymar was Brazil’s standout player in their 2013 Confederations Cup victory—the only title he won with the senior national team—and was named the tournament’s best player.
At the World Cups, he experienced both unforgettable moments and painful setbacks. He shone at Brazil 2014 before suffering the injury that sidelined him from the tournament prior to the historic 7-1 loss to Germany. He was subsequently eliminated in the knockout stages of Russia 2018 against Belgium, in Qatar 2022 against Croatia, and, finally, at the 2026 World Cup following a loss to Norway.
In addition to the Confederations Cup, one of the most memorable chapters of his career came at the 2016 Rio Olympics, when, as captain and wearing the No. 10 jersey, he led Brazil to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in football history, scoring the decisive penalty kick against Germany at the Maracanã.
Neymar brings his time with the Brazilian national team to a close with a tally of 80 goals in 130 matches, a record that makes him Brazil’s all-time leading scorer in official matches, surpassing Pelé’s 77 goals. His farewell brings to a close one of the most brilliant and high-profile eras in the history of the Canarinha, marked by records, titles, and a relentless pursuit of the World Cup that never quite materialized.
