Neymar‘s father has made an emotional appeal to his son following the Brazil forward’s decision to retire from international football after the Selecao’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end.Following Brazil’s Round of 16 elimination, Neymar Pai took to social media with a heartfelt message, urging his son not to step away from the game he has devoted his life to.“I want to make a request as a father. Son, keep playing soccer.” Neymar’s father wrote.The emotional post came shortly after Neymar confirmed that his international career was over following Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Norway at MetLife Stadium.The five-time world champions saw their hopes of lifting a sixth World Cup title dashed as Erling Haaland struck twice, with Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty serving only as a consolation.Moments after the defeat, the 34-year-old announced that he had played his final match for Brazil.“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here; I finished here,” Neymar told reporters.Although Brazil’s campaign ended in disappointment, Neymar signed off as the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.His late penalty, awarded after Leo Østigård was penalised for fouling Casemiro in added time, was his first goal of the tournament. It also took his international record to 80 goals and 59 assists in 130 appearances for Brazil.Across a glittering international career spanning more than a decade, Neymar helped Brazil win the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and captained the nation to Olympic gold on home soil at the Rio 2016 Games.His place in Brazil’s World Cup squad had been uncertain until the final stages of selection because of ongoing fitness concerns. However, head coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to include the experienced forward in his 26-man squad, hoping Neymar could inspire another deep run at football’s biggest tournament.Instead, Brazil’s campaign ended earlier than expected.Norway soaked up sustained Brazilian pressure before Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute, rising highest to head home Andreas Schjelderup’s cross. Brazil found a late response through Neymar’s penalty, but it was not enough to prevent elimination.The defeat also extended Brazil’s difficult recent record at the World Cup, marking a seventh successive knockout-stage defeat against European opposition and their earliest exit from the tournament since 1990.While Neymar’s international chapter has now closed, his father’s emotional plea made it clear that he hopes his son will continue playing club football.
