Neymar has broken his silence following intense backlash over his decision to compete in a poker tournament while Santos played a crucial Copa Sudamericana tie. The 34-year-old superstar posted a cryptic social media response as he continues to recover from Brazil's shock World Cup exit and his subsequent retirement from international football.
Santos superstar Neymar was a notable absentee from the squad as Cuca's side secured a dominant victory in the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday night. Rather than flying to Venezuela for the continental clash, the Brazilian icon was spotted competing in a professional poker tournament in Sao Paulo.
Brazilian forward Neymar is back on the training pitch with Santos, looking sharp and scoring goals in a recently shared video. The return to domestic action comes swiftly after a heartbreaking exit from the 2026 World Cup, which culminated in his emotional international retirement and intense scrutiny over how his fitness was managed during the tournament.
And so the 2026 World Cup has come to a close after an enthralling 39 days that saw Spain get their hands on the trophy. Throughout the showpiece tournament in North America, GOAL, in association with eToro, has been tracking the value of some of the world's most sought-after talents. Did their price rise or plummet? Check out the final standings of our unique player value tracker to find out...
And just like that, it's over. After five-and-a-half weeks of breathless action, the 2026 World Cup is beginning to appear in the rearview mirror, the biggest international tournament in football history leaving behind a lifetime of memories while champions Spain continue their own celebrations.
There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.
The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.
The 2026 World Cup is over, and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. With the expanded 48-nation tournament coming to a close, following a month of thrilling action in North America, which star has taken home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL lists the tournament's most prolific performers.
Neymar has decided to heal the wounds of his international retirement by splashing out on a staggering £17 million ($23m) superyacht. The Brazilian legend, who called time on his Selecao career following their World Cup exit, has followed in the footsteps of fellow icons David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo by investing in a luxury vessel.
Brazil's Olympic gold-winning coach Rogerio Micale has questioned Carlo Ancelotti's treatment of Neymar during the 2026 World Cup, comparing the forward to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite Neymar announcing his international retirement following a devastating exit against Norway, Micale insists the attacker should reconsider and aim for the 2030 tournament.
Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario has sent a public message to Neymar, urging the forward not to rush into international retirement following a devastating 2026 World Cup exit. The Santos star hinted that his time with the Selecao was over after a shock defeat in North America, but he has now been told to take a step back before making a final call.
Brazil icon Neymar has wasted no time finding a new competitive outlet following the Selecao's disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. The 34-year-old was spotted at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas just days after his country was eliminated from the tournament by Norway.
Brazil legend Neymar has been spotted taking a weight off his feet in surprising fashion just days after his nation’s shock 2026 World Cup exit. The 34-year-old was filmed navigating the crowds at Universal Orlando on a mobility scooter, sparking fresh debate regarding his physical condition during the tournament.
The World Cup has a remarkable ability to completely alter the course of careers. There is no grander stage in the game, meaning impressive performances garner the kind of acclaim and attention that is simply not possible in any other arena. Consequently, the transfer market tends to go wild in and around World Cups, as clubs scramble to snap up previously hidden gems or suddenly established stars.
Brazil's early elimination from the World Cup continues to generate shockwaves in national football, and no one has been more vocal in their dissatisfaction than the legendary Romario. The hero of the fourth World Cup title spared no criticism of Carlo Ancelotti's work and Endrick's lack of accuracy at the crucial moment of the defeat against Norway.
Norway striker Erling Haaland admitted that conquering international heavyweights Brazil still feels completely surreal after his dramatic double sealed a historic victory. The Manchester City superstar produced a lethal late display to fire his nation into the World Cup quarter-finals, dumped the five-time champions out, and kept his Golden Boot dreams alive.
Endrick has opened up on his devastating miss during Brazil's shock World Cup exit to Norway. The Real Madrid striker missed a golden opportunity before the team suffered a painful 2-1 defeat. He has now promised to learn from the heartbreaking moment and vowed to work tirelessly to ensure the national team bounce back in the 2030 tournament.
Arsene Wenger has raised serious doubts over whether Jurgen Klopp's arrival will be enough to fix the deep-rooted issues within the German national team. Despite the former Liverpool boss being viewed as a savior, the legendary Arsenal manager believes the problems in German football run much deeper than who is sitting in the dugout.
Brazil
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)