Neymar:A father has made an emotional appeal to his son following the Brazil forward’s decision to retire from international football after the Selecao’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end.After Brazil’s Round of 16 elimination, Neymar Pai took to social media with a heartfelt message, urging his son not to walk away from the sport he has spent his life on.“I want to make a request as a father. Son, keep playing soccer.” Neymar’s father wrote:The emotional post came shortly after Neymar confirmed his international career was over following Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway at the MetLife Stadium.The five-time world champions saw their hopes of a sixth World Cup title dashed as Erling Haaland scored twice, with Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty serving as a consolation.Moments after the loss, the 34-year-old announced that he had played his last game for Brazil.“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here; I finished here,” Neymar told reporters.Although Brazil’s campaign ended in disappointment, Neymar signed on as the top goalscorer of the entire season.His late penalty, awarded after Leo Østigård was penalized for fouling Casemiro in added time, was his first goal of the tournament. He also took his international record to 80 goals and 59 assists in 130 appearances for Brazil.In a glittering international career that spanned more than a decade, Neymar helped Brazil win the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and captained the country to Olympic gold on home soil at the Rio 2016 Games.His place in Brazil’s World Cup squad was uncertain until the final stages of selection due to ongoing health concerns. However, head coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to include the experienced forward in his 26-man squad, hoping Neymar can inspire a deep run at football’s biggest tournament.However, the Brazilian campaign ended earlier than expected.Norway wore down under sustained Brazilian pressure before Haaland broke the deadlock in the 79th minute, rising high to head in Andreas Schjelderup’s cross. Brazil found a late response through Neymar’s penalty, but it was not enough to prevent elimination.The defeat also extended Brazil’s difficult recent record at the World Cup, marking their seventh consecutive knockout-stage defeat against European opposition and their first exit from the tournament since 1990.While Neymar’s international chapter is now closed, his father’s emotional plea made it clear that he hopes his son will continue to play club football.