KATHMANDU, July 6: Brazilian star Neymar has announced his retirement from international football after Brazil's 2-1 defeat to the Norway national football team in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup, according to Yahoo Sports.
Neymar, 34, came on as a second-half substitute at MetLife Stadium and scored a stoppage-time penalty to reduce the deficit, but Brazil was unable to avoid elimination. Following the match, the forward confirmed that it was his final appearance for the national team, Yahoo Sports reported.
"I tried. It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished it here. It is now over," Neymar said after the match, according to Yahoo Sports.
Brazil without Neymar as Portugal target World Cup last 16
According to the report, Neymar had been doubtful for selection after suffering a calf injury while playing for Santos FC in May. Although he was included in coach Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad, he did not start any of Brazil's matches.
Neymar entered Sunday's match in the 67th minute with the score level at 0-0. Norway took the lead through Erling Haaland in the 79th minute before Haaland doubled the advantage in the 90th minute with a long-range strike, Yahoo Sports said.
The Brazilian forward scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Leo Østigard was penalised for fouling Casemiro inside the penalty area.
According to Yahoo Sports, the goal was Neymar's 80th for Brazil, making him the country's all-time leading men's international scorer, three goals ahead of Pelé.
Despite the scoring record, Neymar was unable to win a World Cup during his international career. Brazil's last World Cup triumph came in 2002, and the team failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals in every World Cup campaign featuring Neymar. Sunday's defeat also marked Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990, the report added.
