Neymar Announces Retirement from National Team? Brazil's All-Time Top Scorer Bids Farewell to the Yellow Jersey, Says 'I Don't Want to Continue Anymore'

Brazilian football superstar forward Neymar has confirmed his retirement from the national team. Weeks ago, following Brazil's World Cup defeat to Norway, he tearfully announced he would no longer represent the national team. According to AFP, Neymar's club Santos played against Venezuela's Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) yesterday in the Copa Sudamericana. In the second leg, he came on as a substitute. Santos won 4-2, comfortably advancing to the round of 16. After the match, Neymar told the media: 'My time playing for the national team is over. I've made history, and I'm very happy about that. I've given my blood, my life, always fighting and striving for this yellow jersey, but now I don't want to continue anymore.' Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading goal scorer. He returned to the World Cup squad after nearly three years, but played only 37 minutes across two matches. His sole goal in this tournament was a penalty kick, but it wasn't enough to prevent Brazil from being eliminated in the round of 16, losing 1-2 to Norway. After the match, he tearfully declared: 'It's all over.' According to Reuters, Neymar has participated in four World Cups and has played for Santos, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain, achieving remarkable success. However, with the national team, he has won only one title—the 2013 Confederations Cup. In total, he has played 130 matches, scored 80 goals, and provided 58 assists. The 34-year-old Neymar still has a contract with Santos until the end of this year, as Santos fights to avoid relegation. Neymar faced criticism for attending a poker tournament while his teammates were competing in Venezuela in the Copa Sudamericana. Recently, in his first match back against Chapecoense, he scored two goals and responded to critics with a sarcastic card-dealing celebration.