Neymar quits international football after Brazil's World Cup knockout loss
Brazilian star Neymar announced his retirement from the national team after a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the World Cup round of 16, ending his international career.
Neymar, 34, Brazil's all-time top scorer, confirmed he will no longer play for the national team after the loss at MetLife Stadium. "I tried. It started here, and I finished here. It is now over," he said after the match.
His first appearance for Brazil was on August 10, 2010, in a friendly against the United States at the same stadium. Ironically, he scored his first international goal there, surpassing Pele in the record books.
Coming on as a substitute against Norway, Neymar converted a penalty in the final minutes, but Brazil could not avoid elimination. He broke down in tears at the final whistle and was consoled by teammates.
The injury-prone striker played only two of Brazil's five games at the tournament due to a nagging right calf problem. He also featured for 15 minutes against Scotland in the group stage.
Captain Marquinhos urged fans to support the next generation. "We ask that people will have patience with the new generation and support them from the get-go," he said.
