India, July 6 -- Brazilian footballer Neymar has announced his immediate retirement from international football after Brazil suffered a stunning 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup. The emotional announcement marked the end of an illustrious international career spanning more than 16 years, during which Neymar became Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer.

The 34-year-old forward broke down in tears after the final whistle and confirmed that he had played his last match for the Brazilian national team. "It is now over," Neymar said, adding that while it was painful to bow out in such a manner, he believed it was the right time to step away from international football.

Brazil endured a disappointing outing despite...