“My time with Brazil is over,” he revealed to the press on Tuesday after being asked about his future with Carlo Ancelotti’s team. “I made history, I was very happy, I gave my blood, my life, and I always fought for the yellow jersey, but now I no longer want to do it.”

Although he had recently received key advice from legends such as Ronaldo, who suggested taking some time to carefully evaluate his next steps, that option was evidently ruled out by the Santos player.

After 16 years with the national team, Neymar‘s time representing his country is over. From now on, the question will be who steps up to take the reins and become the new idol of this team.

Neymar’s glorious career with Brazil

Neymar is the all-time top goalscorer in the history of the Brazil national team, having scored 80 goals in 130 senior appearances since making his debut in 2010. Beyond his goalscoring record, where he famously surpassed Pele’s tally of 77 goals, he is also the country’s all-time leading playmaker with 59 assists.

Throughout his international career, Neymar featured in four FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026), scoring 9 tournament goals, and led the Selecao to titles at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games (Gold Medal).

The last dance for Ney

Although the final result was not what they had hoped for, Neymar was able to say goodbye in style alongside the rest of his teammates. Ancelotti decided to include him in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, and despite having limited minutes on the pitch, he still managed to score a goal.

In what would ultimately be a 2-1 defeat against Norway and Brazil’s subsequent elimination, Ney converted a penalty in stoppage time to score his team’s consolation goal. In that way, during what were his final minutes on the pitch representing his national team, the forward made sure his last touch came with the ball in the back of the net.

Neymar quickly shut down the reports through a video posted to his Instagram account. “Hello guys, good Sunday to everyone. Not the Sunday we wanted, but we have to hold our heads high and keep working,” Neymar said. “Another thing, I am seeing some things coming out about me scolding the young players inside the locker room. Totally false. Whoever passed that along, please, do not do that. Do not do that; do not lie.

“Do not lie; you can ask anyone who was inside the locker room. It was a reprimand for the team. I spoke, Lucas spoke, Aarao, Gabi (Gabriel Barbosa), Brazao… Everyone. And there were reprimands, obviously, because we are competitors; we want to win. But there was no reprimand for the young players.

“I am not going to accept that. From now on, I will not accept these lies you put out on the Internet. Got it? Are we together? Please. That is all. And another thing, reprimands inside the locker room, regardless of who it is, are normal. Those who are spreading this malicious and false information do not know anything. They do not know what football is and have never been part of a squad.”

What were the rumors involving Neymar?

Even during the match, Neymar appeared visibly agitated. The former Barcelona and PSG star took center stage with his unique celebration after scoring the opening goal in the 36th minute for Santos. He celebrated with anger, directing his reaction toward his critics by first emulating playing poker before running to the corner to use the flag like a golf club in another message to his detractors.

Neymar, who received a yellow card for pushing two opponents and will miss the next match due to card accumulation, made headlines for events that took place primarily at halftime and after the final whistle—far from the cameras. Globo reported that the Brazilian international targeted two of his younger teammates, a behavior that reportedly generated discontent among the players, coaching staff, and the board of directors.

According to reports, he called Gabriel Bontempo an “idiot” and suggested he would be playing for bottom-table Chapecoense in the Brasileirao next season. He also reportedly went after Joao Ananias, questioning his technical ability after Ananias scored an own goal in the 62nd minute.

However, following the match and once the controversy surfaced, both Bontempo and Ananias publicly denied any personal confrontation with Neymar, clarifying that only a general team-wide reprimand occurred at halftime.

His tears on the pitch after Brazil’s elimination left everyone stunned. Ronaldo is calling for caution as Neymar considers his future decision: “Don’t demand anything from yourself and don’t decide anything now, you don’t need to. Nobody needs to resolve anything right now,” he said on TNT Sports Brazil.

O Fenomeno also added: “He will return to his club, he will play again. We cannot forget that he is coming off two years of serious injury. He arrived as a sacrifice for this World Cup. He will catch the rhythm again. He will play 10, 15 games in a row. He will get back to scoring goals, he will regain his confidence.”

His talent is unquestionable, but Ronaldo also knows that everything will depend on the decision Carlo Ancelotti makes: “In a little while he’ll be excited again and who knows, maybe Ancelotti will see him as an option for the Brazilian national team. He has the technical condition. Now, he needs to be physically well so he can be decisive.”

Neymar’s post-World Cup future

Carlo Ancelotti’s call-up of Neymar Jr. ahead of the World Cup sparked excitement among fans and experts alike. However, his performance during the tournament fell short of expectations, with the forward playing just 37 minutes and scoring one goal against Norway.

The question many are asking now is what will happen next. The forward will have to fulfill his commitments in the Brasileirao with Santos. Once the next South American qualifiers begin, it will become clear what final decision the striker will make.

Neymar’s numbers with Brazil

Since making his international debut in August 2010, Neymar has established himself as a legendary figure for the Brazilian national team, racking up an impressive 80 goals in 130 appearances. He officially surpassed the iconic Ronaldo Nazario (who scored 62 goals for the Selecao) on October 14, 2020, by scoring a brilliant hat-trick in a 4–2 World Cup qualifying victory against Peru.

This historic performance elevated him to second place at the time, and he has since gone on to break even Pele’s official tally of 77 goals, cementing his place as Brazil’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer.

Neymar scored Brazil’s only goal against Norway, entering as a substitute for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Still, his goal and efforts weren’t enough to guide the Scratch Du Oro to a better path. Brazil have won five World Cups, all prior to Neymar’s arrival.

Despite playing four World Cups for Brazil, Neymar wasn´t able to get his national team over the hump. Now, he is leaving it for the next generation to try and get Brazil the all-elusive sixth world title. Now, Norway are waiting to find out who they’ll play in Miami on Saturday, July 11.

Neymar’s numbers at 2026 World Cup

While Neymar couldn’t guide Brazil to World Cup glory, it wasn’t for lack of effort. In fact, his numbers at the World Cup are incredible to see. He is one of the few players to score in four different World Cups.

Neymar has nine goals and four assists in in 15 games in the World Cup. However, Neymar also suffered injuries in three of the World Cups he played. In 2014, he was injured in the quarterfinals vs. Colombia, while he missed games in 2022 and 2026 with injuries as well.

How does Neymar rank among Brazil’s World Cup’s best performers?

Even if he lacked the ultimate goal of winning the World Cup, Neymar can be considered as one of the most prolific players in Brazil’s history. In fact, he’ll end up tied in third place in Brazil’s best World Cup scorers, only behind Ronaldo and Pele.

• Ronaldo: 15 goals
• Pelé: 12 goals
• Ademir: 9 goals
• Vavá: 9 goals
• Jairzinho: 9 goals
• Neymar: 9 goals.

Neymar was seen crying after the final whistle, especially because this likely marks the final World Cup of his career and a definitive farewell to the Verdeamarela. The exit leaves a bitter taste for the forward, who was never able to give his absolute best in the competition.

Neymar scored from the penalty spot in the 90+7th minute after Casemiro received an elbow to the face inside the box. Leading up to the spot-kick, Neymar displayed a cheeky attitude, exchanging words with the opposing goalkeeper. Just minutes earlier, he had committed a yellow-card foul born out of desperation after Haaland scored his brace.

Haaland played the villain

Erling Haaland is enjoying one of the best moments of his career. The Manchester City attacker achieved a historic feat: helping his national team break into the top eight of the World Cup.

The Norwegian forward opened the scoring to make it 1-0 in the 79th minute and extended the lead in the 90th minute with a great finish, leaving no chance for Alisson—a goalkeeper he frequently scores against in Premier League clashes between Manchester City and Liverpool.

The match ended 2-1 in favor of Norway following Neymar’s consolation penalty, but the Scandinavian squad secured qualification and a spot among the top eight of the 2026 World Cup. With the performance, Haaland reached an incredible 62 goals in 54 matches with the national team.

With this victory, Norway advance to the quarterfinals, where they await the winner of the matchup between Mexico and England, charting a path to the final that looks to be more than complicated following this bracket update.

Following heartbreak, the 34-year-old megastar suggested that this was his last World Cup appearance. “I tried,” Neymar said, suggesting that he’s giving up after so many attempts to deliver a sixth world championship to his country.

Neymar bursted into tears after the Norway loss, proving how much he wanted to succeed with Brazil on the global stage. Glory has been elusive for the winger at the international level, though he did help his country win its first Olympic gold medal in soccer in Rio 2016.

Will Neymar play in the 2030 World Cup?

Looking further ahead, it is highly improbable that fans will see Neymar on the pitch for the 2030 World Cup. His comments suggest that it’s over, and his age might be another roadblack. The forward will be 38 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, a milestone where maintaining elite, world-class athletic performance becomes an uphill battle.

Brazil’s elimination in 2026 isn’t their worst World Cup finish ever, but it’s a tough one for the country. Neymar arrived after battling with injuries, and the outcome was painful.

Neymar’s international legacy with Brazil

While he fell short of finding his peak form during this 2026 run, the Brazilian talisman still managed to find the back of the net one final time during the knockout defeat to Norway, a side that has already learned their upcoming quarterfinal opponent, with date a venue confirmed.

Here is a closer look at Neymar’s historic, career-spanning statistical footprint with the Selecao:

• Neymar Jr.: All-Time Brazil statistics
  • Appearances: 130
  • Goals: 80 (Extending his record as Brazil’s all-time men’s leading goal scorer)
  • Assists: 59
  • Total Goal Contributions: 139
• FIFA World Cup career totals
  • Four consecutive World Cup tournament appearances (2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
  • Matches Played: 15
  • Goals Scored: 9
  • Assists: 5

Carlo Ancelotti, who is also without Raphinha in attack from the start, opts to partner Vinicius Jr. with Rayan and Matheus Cunha, who has been in outstanding form. These are the starting XI the manager has selected for the match:

Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos (C), Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos; Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro; Gabriel Martinelli, Vinicius Jr., Rayan, Matheus Cunha.

The stakes could not be higher: for Brazil, a win, draw, or loss would each lead to a very different outcome. The five-time world champion is determined to continue its pursuit of another World Cup title, but the Vikings are expected to provide a stern challenge, backed by their strong FIFA ranking.

Neymar’s impact on Brazil

Neymar has been the undeniable cornerstone of Brazil’s attack for over a decade, injecting unparalleled creativity, flair, and unpredictability into the national team’s frontline. As a dynamic playmaker and clinical finisher, he completely transformed the Selecao‘s offensive identity by carrying the tactical burden and consistently delivering in high-stakes moments.

His immense impact is perfectly cemented in the history books, where he stands as Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, having netted 79 goals in 129 international appearances.

All or nothing for Brazil

American referee Ismail Elfath will be in charge of officiating a match of major importance for both teams. While Brazil enter the contest with the advantage of a higher FIFA ranking, Norway are determined to pull off an upset and secure a place in the next stage.

The winner of the match will face the winner of the Mexico vs. England showdown in the quarterfinals. That match is scheduled to be played later at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

With a smiling message on his official X account, the forward told Klement to make a better effort with his predictions next time. “Mr. Joachim Klement… please try harder at the next World Cup,” with a winking emoji.

Neymar Jr. did not see any minutes on the pitch in the match where Brazil defeated Japan 2–1 with a last-gasp winner. Now, the Selecao will face the winner of the Norway vs. Ivory Coast clash.

Klement’s predictions

Joachim Klement has gained international fame for his remarkably accurate mathematical model used to forecast FIFA World Cup winners. Combining traditional sporting factors like FIFA rankings with complex socio-economic variables, his formula achieved a flawless streak by correctly predicting the last three consecutive global champions: Germany in 2014, France in 2018, and Argentina in 2022.

Brazil await their opponent

Norway or Ivory Coast will be Brazil’s opponent in the Round of 16, with that matchup still to be decided. When and where will it take place? The match will be played on Sunday, July 5 at 4:00 PM ET at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Speaking in a postgame interview, Ancelotti explained the following situation regarding Neymar. “Why didn’t I put Neymar in? I was waiting for extra time. I discussed it with him: if we didn’t equalize, he would come on in the 60th or 65th minute... It’s just that I didn’t want to change the structure; we had control of the game.” Brazil will now have a clear idea of who they will face in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup and when.

Hence, Neymar was well in the plans for Ancelotti, it just so happened that Gabriel Martinelli’s game-winning goal stopped that plans in its tracks, given that there was no extra time then. This goal prevented Japan to seek their best finish in a World Cup.

Neymar has had limited presence for Brazil in 2026 World Cup

Neymar has played a total of 14 minutes in the 2026 World Cup. He made his tournament debut in the group-stage finale against Scotland on June 24, coming off the bench as a substitute in the 76th minute. He missed Brazil’s first two group matches due to a calf injury.

Hence, even if this is Neymar’s last dance in a World Cup, he is not being very involved with the roster. The calf injury really took many of his options to start, and also made him fall in the pecking order. That doesn’t make him feel less important though. In fact, Neymar celebrated the win over Japan by calling out a mathematician who predicted Brazil to lose.

Ancelotti’s super subs don’t involve Neymar

Ancelotti lost starter Raphinha due to injury, so Rayan has gotten the starting role now. Still, Ancelotti uses Endrick and Martinelli as subs more often than Neymar. For the Italian head coach, the hierarchy puts both Endrick and Martinelli above Neymar’s services. That was seen clearly in the match vs Japan.

Neymar is still a very important part of the roster in terms of experience, World Cup presence, and overall talent. However, this is a stacked team with a loaded attacking unit, so coming off an injury and at 34 years old, it’s not the best of scenarios for the Santos player.

The Santos star saw some minutes of action in his last match against Scotland after missing the first two games due to injury. Perhaps the lack of match fitness is one of the reasons why the Italian manager is opting for other names to face Japan at Houston Stadium.

Raphinha is one of Brazil’s major absentees and will not be available for his teammates due to injury. Japan are aiming to pull off a shock, so an extremely exciting match is expected in Houston.

What injury did Neymar Jr. suffer?

Prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Neymar Jr. suffered a grade two right calf muscle injury on May 17, 2026, while playing for Santos against Curitiba—just one day after Brazil announced their tournament squad. This injury sidelined him for the first two group stage matches of the tournament, forcing him to watch from the bench during Brazil‘s draw against Morocco and their 4-0 victory over Haiti while undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program.

He finally made his emotional return to action on June 24, 2026, coming off the bench in the 76th minute of Brazil’s 3-0 win against Scotland to help secure the top spot in Group C.

Japan also have a key absence

Takefusa Kubo will not play this match for Japan as he was unable to recover from his knee injury. Although the Blue Samurai’s FIFA ranking is lower than Brazil’s, the Asian side is determined to pull off a major upset in the tournament.

Brazil’s current FIFA ranking has many believing A Seleção will navigate this fixture without much trouble. However, it remains absolutely critical for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to secure the victory to officially lock down their spot in the Round of 32.

With the venue logistics and a massive expected attendance already locked in for this Brazil vs Scotland clash, both teams are fully primed for an intensely physical match. Here is a look at how both nations are going to take the pitch today.

Brazil’s confirmed starting XI to face Scotland

With Raphinha sidelined due to an injury suffered against Haiti, Carlo Ancelotti will have to rely on his squad depth to fill the void on the wing. While Neymar is fit and available to play, he will start from the bench, expecting to have some activity if the game allows it.

Brazil’s confirmed starting XI: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Rayan, Vinicius Jr., Matheus Cunha.

Scotland’s confirmed lineup to face Brazil

After defeating Haiti but falling to Morocco, Scotland still mathematically has a chance to advance—potentially even as the Group C leader. To pull off that top-spot miracle, the Tartan Army would need to defeat Brazil and hope Haiti manages to hold Morocco to a draw or pull off an upset victory.

Scotland’s confirmed starting XI: Angus Gunn; Andy Robertson, Nathan Patterson, Scott McKenna, Jack Hendry; Scott McTominay, Jhon McGinn, Lewis Ferguson, Kenny McLean; Ben Gannon-Doak, and Lawrence Shankland.