‘I don’t want it anymore’ – Neymar, 34, confirms RETIREMENT after ‘giving my life and blood’ for Brazil for 16 years

NEYMAR has confirmed his retirement from Brazil duty after admitting he “doesn’t want it anymore”. The former Barcelona forward had a disastrous World Cup as he played just 37 minutes before his Brazil team were dumped out in the Last-16 by Norway. Neymar has confirmed he has retired from Brazil duty because he ‘doesn’t want it anymore’ Credit: Getty The forward was left in tears after Brazil were dumped out of the World Cup by Norway Credit: Reuters Neymar scored Brazil’s consolation in that game but he was left in tears at the full-time whistle. He claimed it would be his final appearance for the Selecao after a spell spanning 16 years. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Neymar has been riddled with injury problems and fitness issues since suffering an agonising ACL tear in 2023 and his career has been on a downward spiral ever since. And he has now reaffirmed his retirement from the national team, saying he no longer has the drive to play for the Samba Stars. Neymar said after Santos‘ 4-2 win over Universidad Central: “My time with the national team is over. “I made history, I was very happy, I gave my blood, my life, I always fought for the yellow jersey, but now I don’t want it anymore.” Neymar’s first appearance at the World Cup came in a 3-0 win over Scotland in the group stage. That was his first game for Brazil in nearly three years following his constant battle with injuries. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Neymar has returned to his boyhood Santos after years of injury hell Credit: Alamy His fitness woes meant he played just seven times for Al-Hilal across two seasons, despite costing around £77m and being paid around £78million a year. He later returned to boyhood club Santos and has managed 44 appearances so far, scoring 19. For Brazil, he has scored 80 times in 130 caps, making him the country’s all-time top scorer, having overtaken the great Pele in 2023. At one point, he was one of the world’s greatest players after dazzling at Barcelona alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. He has scored 379 goals in his club career and won the Champions League with Barca in 2015. But he’s been unable to shine at World Cups after his 2014 tournament was cut short by injury before Brazil crashed out to Germany in a 7-1 mauling. Then in 2018 he and Brazil were denied by a magical Eden Hazard display a round earlier. He took them to penalties thanks to a brilliant solo goal in 2022 against Croatia but still ended up on the losing side and short of expectations in the quarter-finals. Comment now