Neymar announces retirement from Brazil national team

Neymar has officially announced his retirement from the Brazil national football team following the country’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The announcement was made at Vila Belmiro after a Santos victory over Venezuela’s Universidad Central. The veteran attacker, who has participated in four World Cups and is among the nation's all-time top scorers, stated that his journey with the national team has reached its limit.

Regarding his club career, Neymar is currently playing for Santos FC under a contract that expires in December. While media speculation has suggested a potential move to Inter Miami to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, Neymar has remained non-committal. Speaking via his YouTube channel, he stated, “I have no intention of retiring,” but added that he will decide his next steps only after fulfilling his current obligations to Santos.

In recent club action, Neymar participated in a match against Vasco da Gama where he was involved in a notable moment involving Vasco captain Thiago Mendes, who declined to shake hands due to a long-standing rivalry. Additionally, Neymar was briefly required to leave the pitch for one minute due to new regulations designed to prevent time-wasting during goalkeeper medical treatments.