OFFICIAL: Neymar confirms his future with the Brazil national team

Neymar has announced he will not play for the Brazil national team after the World Cup, bringing to a close his illustrious career as the top scorer in "Selecao" history and creating a major gap for the Brazilian squad.

Neymar has officially put an end to all speculation about his future by confirming he will no longer represent the Brazil national team. The decision of the 34-year-old striker marks the conclusion of one of the greatest international careers in history. Selecao, while also ushering in a challenging transition period for the five-time World Cup champions.

After Brazil's bitter defeat to Norway at the 2026 World Cup, Neymar became the center of attention. The Santos-owned star entered the tournament with an injury and spent most of the time on the sidelines recovering. Upon full recovery, the Brazil coach had already established a stable lineup, leaving the 1992-born forward without a starting spot.

In the knockout match, Neymar was only brought on as a substitute. He still managed to score a penalty in the final minutes, but it was merely a consolation goal as Brazil could not avoid defeat. The image of Neymar crying after the final whistle quickly spread across the media, signaling a sad end to his final journey in the yellow and green shirt.

A few days later, Neymar himself confirmed his decision to retire from international football. Sharing his thoughts after Santos' 4-2 victory over Universidad Central, the former Barcelona and PSG star stated that his time with the Brazil national team had officially come to an end.

Neymar's statement means Brazil will bid farewell to the player with the most goals in the team's history. Over more than a decade of service, he was always the centerpiece of the Selecao's play, featured in multiple World Cups and Copa America tournaments, and became an icon of Brazilian football in the post-Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaka era.

Alongside his shocking decision, Neymar also addressed the controversies surrounding him recently. The 34-year-old striker was criticized for attending a poker tournament while Santos was playing in the Copa Sudamericana. In response, he celebrated a goal by mimicking card dealing and golf swings, as a reaction to the backlash.

Additionally, Neymar also denied reports claiming that he publicly criticized his teammates Gabriel Bontempo and Joao Ananias after the draw against Chapecoense. The Santos captain insisted that the media distorted his statements to create unnecessary controversy: "It's sad and unpleasant, but it's not my fault. These stories spread to many people. After the match, I spoke out demanding better and said we couldn't be so careless. You can't lose a draw like that, with all due respect to Chapecoense. That's all I said. I said we would have a rematch with them next year, if you know what I mean. As captain, I have every right to say that. Lucas Veríssimo and Gabigol also spoke up."

Although he will continue playing at the club level, Neymar will no longer appear in the Brazil national team jersey. The departure of the greatest scorer in Selecao history closes a memorable era, while placing on the next generation the task of bringing Brazilian football back to the top of the world.