After all of Brazil wept over his injury at the 2014 World Cup and the subsequent humiliating exit at the hands of Germany (1-7) in the semifinals, tears were on the agenda again 12 years later with elimination from the 2026 edition after a shocking 1-2 loss to Norway on Sunday in New Jersey.

Neymar's presence at the 23rd edition of the World Cup finals was already uncertain due to injury, before Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti surprised everyone by calling him up and giving him his fourth chance to participate in the tournament.

Brazilian President Mocks Neymar

And even Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva mocked Neymar's situation by saying he is 'the first player in the world to be called up and work remotely.'

The 34-year-old player missed the opening draw with Morocco 1-1 at the World Cup held in North America, and Ancelotti excluded him from the squad for the second match against Haiti (3-0), before coming on as a substitute in the third round against Scotland (3-0).

When a child mentioned Neymar's name, Lula replied: 'Neymar? He doesn't even play!'

The 80-year-old president added during his speech at a ceremony at a hospital in Belo Horizonte in the southeast of the country: 'Neymar is the first player to be called up (to the national team) and work remotely.'

Neymar suffered a right calf injury in mid-May and did not play in any match since then, before entering in the 76th minute against Scotland, but he missed the hard-fought win over Japan (2-1).

Because of the two goals scored by Erling Haaland in Sunday's match, Neymar's journey with the Brazilian national team ended, having played his last match at the age of 34.

Neymar ended the match with a very late penalty, strengthening his record with the national team as he raised his tally to 80 goals.

The number 10 sat crying on the pitch of MetLife Stadium, surrounded by teammates who tried to console him.

His 130th and final international appearance, Neymar made it official in the 67th minute when Ancelotti decided to bring him on instead of Gabriel Martinelli.

Probably due to emotion, Neymar failed in his first dribble and his first pass as well, while the audience captured the moment on their phones.

A final goal

The minutes passed without him managing to give the Brazilian attack momentum and inspiration, as in that forced dribble inside the area amid a forest of Norwegian feet.

As elimination approached, frustration took hold of him and he stepped slightly out of line, with a rough tackle on Martin Ødegaard in the 90+5 minute, then clashed with Norwegian players who rushed at the moment of the incident, earning a deserved yellow card.

Was this unfortunate scene the last thing remaining of Neymar? No. A blow from the elbow by Leo Østigård to Casemiro's face resulted in a penalty, the second for the Seleção after they missed the first in the 13th minute through Bruno Guimarães.

In the final moments of stoppage time, and while the victory was largely in Norway's hands along with qualification to the quarterfinals for the first time, the 34-year-old forward did not hesitate to take the kick.

Just before that, in a tense atmosphere, he exchanged words with goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland who tried to distract him with many movements on his goal line, but that did not prevent the Brazilian icon from scoring his 80th international goal.

That goal did not spare Brazil from exiting this stage for the first time since 1990 and will only have the value of a tearful farewell in a tournament that never smiled on Neymar (reaching the semifinals without playing due to injury in 2014, and reaching the quarterfinals in 2018 and 2022).