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Neymar's father has urged his son to "keep playing" following Brazil's shocking World Cup round of 16 elimination at the hands of Norway.
Neymar came off the bench as a substitute, netting a late consolation penalty as Brazil crashed out of the tournament with a 2–1 loss in East Rutherford, N.J.
The loss appeared to signal the end of Neymar's international career. The 34-year-old holds Brazil's all-time scoring record (80 goals) and has claimed the Copa América and Olympic gold, yet the World Cup has always eluded him. Neymar departed the pitch in tears at MetLife Stadium, telling the media: "It is now over."
"It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here," he said. Neymar made his international debut back in August 2010, in a friendly against the USMNT. Nearly 16 years on, he bows out at the very same venue.
The Santos forward has since been notably quiet on social media following Brazil's exit from the competition.
Neymar's Father Makes Emotional Plea
Neymar's father and agent, Neymar Sr., shared a heartfelt message accompanied by music on Instagram on Monday.
"Oh, son... What a journey," Neymar Sr. wrote. "What a beautiful path. Challenging. Often painful, but infinitely blessed. A decision made today does not define your entire story. A dream that hasn't come true yet doesn't mean it's dead."
Neymar Sr. went on to encourage his son to carry on playing and "rediscover the joy" of the game. Neymar has endured a difficult stretch as a footballer, battling poor form and injury since rupturing his ACL in 2023. He had not featured for Brazil in nearly three years before his unexpected inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad.
Neymar Sr. added: "And when I look ahead, I remain just as certain. The best doesn't depend on age or circumstances. I want to make a request to you as a father. Son, keep playing football.
"Rediscover the joy of having the ball at your feet. Smile again on the field. Today you are healthy. God has given you another chance to do what you've always loved. Enjoy football. Don't carry on your shoulders the weight of decisions, criticism, expectations, or the setbacks that life brings.
"Don't be afraid of tomorrow. Live for today. Train. Smile. Play football. Delight people once again. Do what God has placed in your hands since you were a child. And never forget that, even before the world admired you, you were always loved by God."
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What's Next for Neymar?
While Neymar's international chapter closes with a fourth World Cup elimination, his club future remains uncertain.
Neymar is still contracted to his hometown club Santos through the end of 2026—a deal he originally signed to improve his prospects of earning a World Cup call-up. Whether he will honor the full length of that contract, however, remains an open question.
ESPN Brasil has reported that the Brazilian club will hold discussions with the player's camp in the coming days to determine the future of their marquee star.
The player himself is currently enjoying some downtime in Orlando in the wake of the tournament, with no return date to club training yet confirmed. He has previously been linked with a potential switch to MLS.