Neymar left the pitch in tears after Brazil were knocked out by Norway in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. The game was played at MetLife Stadium in New York and New Jersey, the same venue where he made his Brazil debut back in 2010.
Norway won 2-1. Erling Haaland scored twice, including a late goal in the 90th minute. Neymar pulled one back with a stoppage-time penalty to bring his international tally to 80 goals, but it wasn’t enough to save Brazil.
After the final whistle cameras caught Neymar covering his face with his Brazil shirt as he broke down. He was consoled by Alisson Becker and later told reporters “I tried, I tried… Now it’s over! I started here, I finished here.” The words suggested he believes his time with the national team has come to an end.
It marks a painful exit for the 34-year-old who is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 80 goals. He also became just the second Brazilian after Pele to score in four different World Cups. Brazil’s wait for a sixth World Cup title goes on, and for Neymar it was a very emotional farewell on the same ground where his journey began.
