Neymar Hints at Retirement After World Cup with ‘The Last Dance’ Message
News Summary
Editorially reviewed.
- Brazilian footballer Neymar has hinted that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be his final tournament, posting “The Last Dance” on social media.
- The 34-year-old, currently playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, has been sidelined since October 2023 due to injury.
- The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marking Brazil’s 23rd consecutive appearance.
May 7, Kathmandu – Brazilian star footballer Neymar Jr has signaled that the 2026 FIFA World Cup may mark the end of his international career. He referred to the upcoming tournament as “The Last Dance.”
This remark was made in a comment on FIFA’s social media post featuring images that documented Neymar’s journey with the Brazil national team. The post was captioned, “We have watched him grow up,” to which Neymar responded with “The Last Dance.”
Neymar has previously indicated in various interviews that he might retire from professional football in December 2026, making that year’s World Cup his final major international competition.
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Brazil will be participating for the 23rd consecutive time, and remains the only country to have qualified for every edition so far.
Currently 34 years old, Neymar has been out of action due to injury since October 2023. He suffered an ACL injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, preventing him from representing Brazil since then. His return has been hampered by ongoing injury issues.
Neymar is currently playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal club but has missed significant playing time due to his injuries. The latest setback has cast doubt on his participation in the upcoming World Cup.
Neymar’s World Cup journey began in 2010 in South Africa, where he scored his first international goal against the United States.
In the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil, he was the team’s key hope on home soil, but his tournament ended prematurely due to injury in the quarterfinal match against Colombia.
He achieved a milestone in his career by leading Brazil to a gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Neymar also returned from injury to play in the 2018 World Cup, where Brazil was eliminated before the semifinals.
With the 2026 World Cup possibly being his last, Neymar appears to be entering a pivotal final chapter in his international career.