Neymar appeared to confirm he is stepping away from international football, saying he no longer wants to play for Brazil only weeks after he suggested his time with the national team could be finished following the World Cup last-16 defeat to Norway.
The 34-year-old forward, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, made the comments after Santos beat Venezuela’s Universidad Central 4-2 in a Copa Sudamericana match late on Tuesday.
“I think my time with the national team has already passed. I made history there, and I’m very happy about it,” he told reporters. “I experienced a lot, gave my blood and my life, and I always fought and battled for the yellow shirt. But I don’t think I want it anymore.”
His latest message echoed what he said shortly after Brazil were beaten 2-1 by Norway on July 5, a result that ended their World Cup campaign in the last round of the tournament’s opening phase.
In that earlier moment, Neymar had come on as a substitute and scored a stoppage-time penalty, but he still indicated during an interview with Brazilian broadcaster ge that his international career was done. “I tried, I tried. Now it’s over,” he said then.
After the Norway loss, Neymar was visibly emotional. The defeat delivered Brazil their earliest World Cup exit since 1990 and also stretched the five-time champions’ wait for a record-extending sixth title.
While Neymar’s club career has been decorated—featuring spells at Santos, Barcelona and Paris St Germain—he has won just one major senior trophy with Brazil, the Confederations Cup in 2013.
Across his international career, Neymar scored 80 goals and provided 58 assists in 130 appearances.
