“It’s over”

After Brazil’s humiliating exit from the World Cup in the last eight against Norway, Neymar announced – clearly marked – the end of his international career.

The Santos striker scored Brazil’s only goal of the game, from the penalty spot in extra time. But it was not enough to avoid elimination. Erling Haaland, who came from another world, ended his dream of the sixth World Cup title with two goals and a 2-1 win for Norway.

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In an interview with Globoesporte TV after the game, Neymar said that the pursuit of a World Cup title is now over. Clearly shaken, he could not hold back the tears.

“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here,” he said.

The end was symbolic: The journey of 130 caps for Brazil started in the exact same stadium – MetLife Stadium – in a friendly against the United States in 2010. Neymar is saying goodbye as the player with the second most caps in Brazil’s history, behind Cafú with 142, and as the country’s all-time top scorer with 80 goals in the coveted “canarinha” shirt.

Brazil’s worst World Cup season in 30 years

The loss to Norway marks Brazil’s worst World Cup result since 1990, when they also crashed out in the last eight. It also means that Brazil is now experiencing its longest World Cup title without a World Cup title since the first victory in 1958. In 2030, it will have been 28 years since Brazil last lifted the trophy – a drought that weighs on an entire nation.

For Neymar, it was a bitter goodbye. He dreamed of following in Pelé’s footsteps – instead, he returns home with a broken heart and a World Cup memory he would never have chosen.

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