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Will Neymar retire? Brazil star updates on future after World Cup 2026 exit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Brazil suffered a major upset on Sunday, as Norway sent the five-time champions home in the Round of 16.
After the loss, perhaps the biggest storyline will be the future of star forward Neymar. The veteran came off the bench for Brazil, scoring a very late penalty in the match as the team leaned on younger options for most of the tournament.
Neymar is one of several stars who could be playing in their final World Cup during the 2026 edition of the tournament. However, unlike other stars, Neymar was more of a role player than a focal point of his team's offensive attack.
Here's what Neymar has said about retirement.
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Will Neymar retire?
Neymar officially played in his final World Cup match, as he has announced his retirement from international soccer after Brazil's loss.
This year, the 34-year-old returned to play in Brazil for Santos, the team for whom he was a fan as a child. He will likely finish the season out in his homeland before deciding whether to continue his club career.
Throughout the year, Neymar has stressed that he is taking his career year-by-year, and he would make a decision on whether he will continue at the end of 2026. Santos FC is set to play its season through December, giving Neymar more months to consider whether or not to end his career completely.
What has Neymar said about retirement?
Easriler this year, Neymar told Caze in Brazil that he doesn't know if he will continue playing after the year ends.
"I don't know what will happen from now on, I don't know about next year," he said, via ESPN. "It may be that when December comes, I'll want to retire. I'm living year to year now. We will see what my heart decides. It depends on what my heart says later in the year."
Neymar viewed this year as crucial with the World Cup taking place this summer, so he wanted to be fully focused on the tournament and the Brazilian soccer season.
"This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it's a World Cup year, and for me too," he said. "I wanted to play this season totally 100 percent."
Now that Brazil's World Cup is over, Neymar officially decided to call time on his international career at least, as he won't play in the next World Cup four years from now.
"I tried. I tried," he said. "It started here at Met Life stadium and I finished here. It is now over."
Neymar World Cup history
Neymar played in four World Cups, making his debut at home in the 2014 World Cup and playing in the 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments. Overall, Neymar had nine goals in those four tournaments, including one against Norway on Sunday.
By retiring, Neymar will officially not play in the 2030 World Cup when he is 38 years old. The deepest Neymar made it in the World Cup was as the fourth-place finisher in 2014.
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