Brazil's 2026 World Cup campaign met an abrupt end in the Round of 16, as the Seleção fell 2‑1 to Norway in a tightly contested match.
The decisive strike came in the 99th minute, when Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior converted a penalty to momentarily level the score, only for Norway to hold on for the victory.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior's International swan song
After the final whistle, the 31‑year‑old forward confirmed that he would retire from international duty, bringing to a close a 16‑year career that yielded 80 goals in 129 appearances.
Debuting in 2010 at the age of 18, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior rose to become Brazil's all‑time leading scorer and a central figure in the nation's recent football narrative, guiding the team to a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Norway, emboldened by the win, will now face the winner of the Mexico‑England quarterfinal clash, a prospect that has reignited hopes of a deeper run for the Scandinavian side.
The match underscored the shifting tides in world football, with seasoned stars bidding farewell while emerging talents prepare to carry the sport forward.