Staff Reporter
NEW JERSEY — Brazil’s quest for a record-extending sixth FIFA World Cup title came to a heartbreaking end on Sunday after Norway stunned the five-time champions 2-1 in the Round of 16, a defeat that also marked the end of Neymar’s glittering international career.
Tournament favourites Brazil dominated possession for long periods but were left to rue missed opportunities, including a first-half penalty missed by Bruno Guimarães, as Norway punished them with a ruthless late display inspired by striker Erling Haaland.
Haaland broke the deadlock in the 78th minute with a towering header before sealing Norway’s famous victory with a thunderous long-range strike in the 89th minute, sending the Scandinavian nation into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time after coming on as a substitute, but the goal proved only a consolation as Brazil suffered one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Moments after the final whistle, an emotional Neymar announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished 16-year career with the Seleção.
“I tried. It started here, at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over,” the 34-year-old said.
In a poignant twist, Neymar’s international career ended at the same stadium where it began in August 2010 when he made his senior debut for Brazil against the United States.
Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, who surpassed the legendary Pelé during his illustrious career, featured in only two matches at the 2026 World Cup after battling a recurring calf injury. His farewell goal from the penalty spot was not enough to prevent Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990.
The defeat also casts a shadow over Carlo Ancelotti’s first major tournament in charge of Brazil. Brought in to restore the South American giants to the summit of world football, the Italian tactician now faces intense scrutiny after his talented side failed to progress beyond the Round of 16.
Despite boasting a star-studded squad that included Neymar, VinÃcius Júnior, Raphinha and Endrick, Brazil struggled to convert individual brilliance into cohesive team performances.
For Norway, the victory will rank among the greatest in the nation’s football history. Haaland’s clinical brace took his tally to seven goals at the tournament, cementing his place among the leading contenders for the Golden Boot and underlining his status as one of the competition’s standout performers.
Brazil captain Marquinhos appealed for patience as the national team enters a new era without its greatest modern-day star.
“We ask that people will have patience with the new generation and support them from the get-go,” he said.
As Norway marches into the quarter-finals with growing confidence, Brazil returns home to begin rebuilding after another painful World Cup disappointment and to usher in life after Neymar.
