Brazil and Neymar fizzle out to a heartbreaking but fitting end

Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended after a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16, closing the door on Neymar’s international career. While the two journeys are vastly different in plot and scope, both endings are equal parts fitting and heartbreaking.

Brazil at the 2026 World Cup

Brazil is never outright counted out when it comes to the world cup, and for good reason. They have won the most World Cups of any country (5) and are the only country to qualify for every single iteration of the tournament. The recognition of Brazil’s long term success in the World Cup has created an unavoidable link in their respective identities. 

Even with this favorable connotation, it was widely understood that this year’s Brazil team did not have as high of a ceiling as squads of World Cups passed. Led by Vinicius Jr. and Neymar, both imperfect superstars in their respective ways, the team was met with cautious optimism in lieu of enthusiastic expectation. 

This outlook didn’t change much after the first game, where despite a disastrous performance Brazil clawed out a draw with Monaco. While things (expectedly) turned around for the better against Haiti, you could still tell this team was just figuring it out as they went along. 

The third match against Scotland was the peak of their tournament. The unrelenting press and the intricate passing movements made this team look like a Brazil squad to remember, seemingly right on time for the knockout stages. Seemingly.

In the final two games Brazil failed to make the most of all their chances, to starkly different results. By the time Norway scored their first goal, Brazil realistically should’ve had two goals, even while being poor in possession. 

The team showed some potential, and crazy things have been happening in this tournament, so the growing optimism wasn’t fully misplaced. But they ultimately succumbed to their limitations, breaking even the most initially resilient Brazilian hearts.

Neymar

As one of the most hotly debated players in soccer history, there isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about Neymar. He is a truly generational talent who became the epitome of unrealized potential. 

He was getting national attention in Brazil when he was 12 years old. During his peak at Barcelona, he was rightfully approaching the comparison conversation with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He will retire as Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer. The hype was real.

However, his 2017 move to Paris Saint Germain (PSG) signalled the beginning of his potential petering out. The issues behind the scenes, the persistent injury troubles, and the habit of being hotheaded at crucial times led to the PSG experiment to ultimately be a bust. 

After a few years and almost even fewer games in Saudi Arabia, Neymar took a year and a half stint at his boyhood club Santos to campaign for a spot in this tournament. Despite some of those PSG issues rearing their head, he was ultimately rewarded with one.

While it was exciting to see him back to some extent, he still didn’t really have a huge impact on the field and didn’t look as menacing as in years past. Neymar ultimately had about 45 minutes of play time across two appearances, with a just late consolation penalty goal to show for it. 

It was disheartening to see such potential be wasted, but the ending makes sense given the reality of the situation.

Finale

Brazil’s flaws were always apparent, but Norway was built to perfectly exploit them. 

Brazil ceded control of the ball and tempo to Norway for most of the match. As time went on, Brazil’s desperation showed itself, and they reverted to the team looking like they were making it all up as they went along. Having no clear cut attacking threat going forward can be beneficial, if the unit can execute the chances they get. It can hurt when you don’t have a team-oriented attack plan.

Even on the first penalty kick, when Vini Jr. and Matheus Cunha are both on the field, Bruno Guimaraes takes it (and has it saved). Unless Bruno was excelling at penalties in practice it doesn’t seem like the logical decision, and felt too last minute.

Meanwhile, Norway was the exact opposite. They took control of the ball and showed urgency off it when needed. They executed on their chances, even when VAR said no. And ultimately, the difference, they had an attacking identity. When you have a forward as good as Erling Haaland it’s hard not to just lump it to him and see if he scores. He usually does. And this time, he did. Twice. 

Brazil did well to create chances when they did prioritize possession, and showed a lot of promise going forward for short bursts of time. But the persistent urgency that made them look like world beaters against Scotland was a distant memory in this match until far too late, and even then it was brushed aside.

Where this all comes together is right at the finale, where all the finales take place. Deep in second half stoppage time Brazil, down 2-0, were awarded a penalty kick because Casemiro was elbowed in the face. Maybe an arguable call but Brazil wasn’t going to argue at that point. Not yet, at least.

Neymar grabs the ball and prepares the shot for himself, because of course, why not. It’s almost like having a predetermined penalty taker during certain lineup situations is advantageous, but I digress.

Anyway, as Neymar is setting the ball down he is seen chirping back and forth with Norway’s goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. Just minutes before Neymar was at the center of a larger heated exchange after a bust up with Martin Odegaard. His hotheadedness made an untimely appearance.

The exchange goes pretty much up until Neymar gets in position for his run up. Neymar scores (because of course he does, it’s Neymar,) and jogs up to the keeper to keep talking smack to Nyland. It isn’t until being prompted by teammates and the refs to return to kickoff that he does so, with moderate urgency. 

Like he had again and again throughout his career, Neymar fell to unnecessary distractions, holding himself back from reaching the heights he’s shown he could reach. 

Both Neymar and Brazil could not overcome their self-imposed limitations, and because of that their endings are bittersweet. Heartbreaking to see happen, but fitting given the lived reality.

Maybe moving on from Neymar will be a good thing. Brazil are in desperate need of a refresh and the transition to a new era could be the perfect spark. Endrick 2030.