Neymar becomes the second Brazilian player in history to reach the saddest milestone after 4 World Cup appearances.
On the morning of July 6, the 1-2 defeat against Norway in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup not only closed Brazil’s journey but also left an unforgettable milestone for Neymar. The 34-year-old forward burst into tears after the final whistle, while becoming the second Brazilian player in history to feature in 4 World Cups but never win the championship.
Before Neymar, only Thiago Silva fell into a similar situation. The veteran center-back attended the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups but could not lift the prestigious trophy.
Meanwhile, Neymar has participated in the 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments. His best achievement was a fourth-place finish on home soil at the 2014 World Cup. Now, he along with his former teammate holds the saddest record for a Brazilian player at the World Cup.
Even so, the Santos striker still inscribed his name into Brazilian football history in a special way. Neymar and Pele are the only two Brazilian players to score in 4 different World Cups. At the 2026 World Cup, he only appeared in two matches against Scotland and Norway, both coming off the substitute bench. In the final match, Neymar came on in the second half and scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot, but could not help Brazil avoid defeat.
After the match, Neymar appeared in tears and was comforted by Raphinha and his teammates. In a brief interview with Brazilian media, the forward born in 1992 also mentioned the possibility of bringing an end to his international career.
If the decision to part ways with the national team becomes a reality, Neymar will end his journey in the Brazil shirt with 130 appearances, scoring 80 goals and providing 58 assists. The only major title he won with the national team was the 2013 Confederations Cup, alongside the 2016 Olympic gold medal in the Brazil Olympic shirt.
