Neymar: Record-breaking Brazil star could announce full retirement ‘within days’ after World Cup exit

Brazil icon Neymar whitethorn person already played his last crippled successful nonrecreational shot if reports are to beryllium believed.

The 34-year-old attacker was a arguable inclusion successful Carlo Ancelotti’s last Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup, arsenic helium had not played for the Selecao since 2023 amid his struggles with injuries.

Neymar missed Brazil’s opening 2 group-stage games owed to a calf occupation earlier featuring for the last 14 minutes of a 3-0 triumph implicit Scotland connected matchday three.

The Santos prima was past an unused substitute for Brazil’s 2-1 comeback triumph against Japan successful the past 32, earlier the Selecao were eliminated from the World Cup successful the circular of 16 by Norway past week.

Neymar came disconnected the seat to score a record-extending 80th planetary goal for Brazil, but his converted punishment heavy into second-half stoppage clip was not capable to assistance Ancelotti’s broadside advancement to the adjacent round.

Neymar was successful tears astatine afloat clip earlier revealing post-match that his planetary vocation with Brazil was "over".

"I tried, I tried. Now it's over. I started here, I finished here," Neymar said successful an interrogation with Brazilian transmission TV Globo pursuing his side's decision to Norway.

Neymar 'considering' afloat status from football

However, it has since emerged that Neymar whitethorn discontinue shot for good, arsenic reports from Brazil, via The Mirror, assertion that the attacker is considering a afloat status and whitethorn not spot retired the extremity of his declaration with boyhood nine Santos.

It has been suggested that Neymar volition bespeak connected Brazil’s World Cup campaign, but a last determination connected his aboriginal successful shot could beryllium announced ‘within days’.

Someone who could power Neymar’s determination is his father, who has encouraged his lad to proceed playing, insisting that the extremity of his vocation should not beryllium defined by the struggles helium has endured.

"Oh, son... What a journey," Neymar Sr. said connected societal media. "What a beauteous path. Challenging. Often painful, but infinitely blessed. A determination made contiguous does not specify your full story.

“A imagination that hasn't travel existent yet doesn't mean it's dead. The extremity of the communicative is ne'er determined by a hard moment..."

He added: "I watched the lad turn into 1 of the top players of his procreation successful history. When I look back, I spot overmuch much than trophies, goals, contracts, oregon recognition. I spot miracles. I spot deliverance. I spot promises being fulfilled.

"And erstwhile I look ahead, I stay conscionable arsenic certain. The champion doesn't beryllium connected property oregon circumstances. I privation to inquire you thing arsenic a father. Son, support playing football.

"Rediscover the joyousness of having the shot astatine your feet. Smile again connected the field. Today you are healthy. God has fixed you different accidental to bash what you've ever loved. Enjoy football. Don't transportation connected your shoulders the value of decisions, criticism, expectations, oregon the setbacks that beingness brings.

"Don't beryllium acrophobic of tomorrow. Live for today. Train. Smile. Play football. Delight radical erstwhile again. Do what God has placed successful your hands since you were a child. And ne'er hide that, adjacent earlier the satellite admired you, you were ever loved by God."

Neymar volition spell down arsenic an iconic footballer successful the modern era

Neymar sits 3 goals wide of legendary striker Pele astatine the apical of Brazil’s all-time scoring charts, and his 130 planetary caps is lone bettered by Cafu (142).

Aside from the 2013 Confederations Cup, Neymar is yet to triumph an large trophy with Brazil; reaching the 2014 World Cup semi-finals and the 2021 Copa America last is the closest helium has travel to lifting planetary silverware.

The attacker volition nevertheless beryllium remembered arsenic an iconic subordinate successful the modern era, winning 7 league titles crossed spells with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the second forked retired a satellite grounds £200m to motion him successful 2017.

At existent nine Santos, Neymar has made a full of 268 appearances crossed each competitions crossed 2 spells, scoring 153 goals and winning six trophies including the 2011 Copa Libertadores.