Brazil's fairy-tale World Cup run came to a crushing halt on Sunday, and with it, perhaps the international career of their greatest-ever goalscorer.
Neymar suggested after the 2–1 last-16 defeat to Norway that he has played his final match for the Seleção—an emotional exit that mirrored the setting of his first.
The 34-year-old entered as a late substitute at MetLife Stadium and coolly converted a stoppage-time penalty, but it proved little more than a footnote. Erling Haaland's first-half brace had already done the damage, sending the five-time world champions spinning out of the tournament far earlier than expected.
In a poignant twist, Neymar scored his maiden Brazil goal on the very same pitch 16 years ago—a 2–0 friendly victory over the United States in 2010. Now, it appears, the circle has closed.
"It began here, and it ends here," Neymar told Brazil's Globo Esporte in a brief, somber exchange after the final whistle. "I tried and I tried. Now it's over."
The veteran forward collapsed in tears as the game ended, surrounded by teammates who rushed to console him.
Once the dazzling heartbeat of Brazilian football, Neymar has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons. Now back at his boyhood club Santos after glittering spells at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, his inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad raised eyebrows—and his body struggled to keep pace.
He missed Brazil's opening two group matches due to fitness concerns but managed a cameo in Miami during the 3–0 win over Scotland—his first international outing since October 2023.
That appearance now stands as a brief, bittersweet coda. His only other run-out in the United States came Sunday, against Norway, in a defeat that may have marked the end of an era for both Neymar and his nation's hopes.