The departure of Neymar Junior from the Brazilian national team, after shocking eliminations from Norway (2:1) in the round of 16 World Cup 2026. marks the end of a magical, but also painful era for "Selesao".
The legendary ace bid a tearful farewell at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – the same place where he made his debut for the national team back in 2010.
The circle closed with words that break the hearts of Brazil fans: ""I'm tired. I tried. It started here at Met Life Stadium and I ended here. Now it's over," Neymar said shortly.
He ends his career as Brazil's top scorer in history. He scored 80 goals in 130 matches and overtook Pele, who reached 77. Cafu remains the record holder for the number of matches with as many as 142. With Brazil, he won the Confederations Cup in 2013, silver at the London Olympics in 2012 and gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, as well as silver at the Copa America in 2021.
This act continued the mass exodus of icons that have marked football in the last two decades.
The end of the romantic era
As the Brazilian national team begins a painful process of transition under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, football fans around the world are realizing with a set that the romantic era of "tens" and out-of-series dribblers is fading before the onslaught of new, athletically dominant generations.
With Neymar's departure, there are only two more names from the galaxy of untouchables left on the highest international stage - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi won the world championship and the Copa America with Argentina, while Ronaldo still leads Portugal and holds the record for the number of goals in national football. Their participation in the 2026 World Cup represents the final chapter of one of the greatest eras in the history of world football.
Photo: Wikimedia / Fanny SchertzerRonaldo and Messi at the match on February 9, 2011
By participating in this tournament, both of them set an absolute record as the only footballers in history who played in as many as six different World Cups (from 2006 to 2026).
Although they are in their late playing years (Ronaldo at 41 and Messi at 39), they still play key roles in their national teams.
After raising the "golden goddess" in Qatar in 2022 and fulfilling his biggest dream, Messi leads Argentina in this championship as well. Already at the very opening of the tournament, he was among the top scorers, showing that his magic does not fade.
On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo, in his sixth World Cup, is chasing the only major trophy missing in his rich career. After initial criticism, he again proved his class with goals in the tournament (including accurate shots from the penalty spot, which tied Messi for the most penalties scored in the history of the World Cup). His hunger for victories and incredible physical fitness at the age of 41 continue to inspire the Portuguese in the fight for the world throne.
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