Neymar has hinted that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the final tournament of his Brazil career, calling it “the last dance” amid his injury recovery.
Neymar signals World Cup farewell/ Credit: FIFA
Brazil superstar Neymar has dropped his strongest hint yet that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could mark the end of his international career, describing the tournament as “the last dance” while continuing his recovery from a series of injury setbacks.
The 34-year-old forward made the remark in the comments section of a FIFA social media post that celebrated his journey with the Brazilian team. The post featured images from different stages of Neymar’s career alongside the caption, “We’ve watched him grow up.”
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Responding to it, the Santos attacker wrote simply: “The last dance,” a phrase famously associated with NBA legend Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997-98, according to Xinhua.
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Brazil will make a record-extending 23rd FIFA World Cup appearance next year, remaining the only nation to have qualified for every edition of football’s biggest tournament. The 2026 competition, beginning next year, will be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States, the first World Cup to be staged across three countries.
Neymar is currently undergoing intensive rehabilitation as he aims to be fit for the tournament after a difficult period plagued by injuries. Brazil’s all-time leading scorer has netted 79 goals in 128 international appearances, but he has not represented the Selecao since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.
Also Read: Brazil’s Neymar sidelined for Egypt clash, undergoes ‘intensive physiotherapy’ for calf injury
His recovery has been interrupted by further fitness issues, with the latest, a calf strain, raising doubts over his availability for Brazil’s opening match against Morocco on June 13.
Neymar’s World Cup journey began with his debut at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where he announced himself by scoring his first international goal just 28 minutes into a 2-0 victory over the United States.
He carried the hopes of an entire nation at the 2014 World Cup on home soil before a serious back injury against Colombia in the quarter-finals ended his campaign. Two years later, he delivered redemption by captaining Brazil to Olympic gold at Rio 2016, converting the decisive penalty in the final at the Maracana Stadium.
The 2018 World Cup was another challenging chapter, as Neymar returned from injury but was unable to inspire Brazil beyond the quarter-finals.
In 2023, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star left European football to join Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. However, after only two months, he suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for an extended period.
The image of Neymar being carried off the field in tears after the ACL injury against Uruguay remains his most recent appearance in a Brazil shirt. Now, as he works toward another comeback, the 2026 World Cup could provide one final opportunity to close his international career on a high.
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