Under a FIFA World Cup post, Neymar reportedly confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be the last time he wears the Brazil jersey on the planet’s biggest stage.
Just days before the biggest football festival on the planet officially kicks off in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, striker Neymar has caused a stir among Samba football fans. On the official FIFA World Cup Instagram account, the governing body posted images capturing his career journey through the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments, along with a new photo set for this year, accompanied by the caption: “We have watched him grow.”
Right below the post, the Santos striker left a brief reply: “The last dance.” This iconic phrase is famously associated with the final season of NBA legend Michael Jordan. Despite not releasing a lengthy announcement, the 34-year-old star’s action is seen as confirmation that his journey with the Brazil national team on the world stage will officially conclude after this year’s campaign.
At 34 years old, Neymar is heading into the fourth World Cup of his career, following 2014, 2018, and 2022. Over 13 matches in this arena, he has recorded 8 goals and 3 assists. Across all national team levels, Neymar is the greatest goalscorer in his country’s football history with a total of 79 goals in 128 international appearances. However, he has never once been able to touch the prestigious golden trophy.
For the forward born in 1992, his past at this tournament is a series of bitter memories intertwined with injuries and tears. At the 2014 World Cup on home soil, he suffered a severe back injury in the quarter-finals. By 2018, poor physical fitness prevented him from helping Brazil get past the quarter-finals. Most recently, in late 2023, his last image was leaving the pitch on a stretcher in tears after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a match against Uruguay.
Currently, Neymar’s physical condition continues to cause major concern for fans. He just picked up an additional calf injury and did not participate in yesterday’s friendly match against Egypt, remaining in New Jersey for treatment.
