Neymar broke down in tears on the field at MetLife Stadium after playing the final international match of his career.
The Brazilian star came on as a second-half substitute in Brazil’s 2-1 Round of 16 loss to Norway on Sunday. The 34-year-old converted a stoppage-time penalty to cut into Norway’s lead, but it was too little, too late. Afterward, Neymar announced his retirement from international soccer.
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“I tried. It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished it here. It is now over,” Neymar said.
Neymar was a doubt to be even included in manager Carlo Ancelotti’s squad because of a calf injury he sustained in May while playing for Santos FC. He made the cut — much to the delight of Brazilian fans — but didn’t start any of Brazil’s matches.
He entered Sunday’s game in the 67th minute with the score still 0-0. Star Norway striker Erling Haaland gave his team the lead 12 minutes later and then doubled it in the 90th minute with a fantastic strike to the far post from outside the box.
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Neymar got the chance for what will be his last goal with the Brazilian national team minutes later after Norway’s Leo Østigard was called for a foul in his own penalty area when he elbowed Casemiro in the head as the two were going for a header.
After scoring his penalty, Neymar had words for Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.
The spot kick was Neymar’s 80th goal for Brazil. He now has three more than Pelé did for the Brazilian men’s record.
Pelé, however, has three World Cup wins. Neymar doesn’t have any. Brazil’s last World Cup came in 2002 and the team hasn’t made it past the quarterfinals with Neymar on its World Cup roster. Sunday’s loss is the first time since 1990 that Brazil has failed to get past the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
