Neymar has announced his immediate retirement from international football after Brazil's World Cup dream was shattered by Norway.
The 34-year-old brought the curtain down on his glittering Brazil career just moments after the Selecao crashed to a 2-1 defeat in the last 16, leaving the forward in tears at the final whistle.
Neymar scored a stoppage-time penalty to reduce the deficit, but it proved nothing more than a consolation as Brazil's campaign came to a painful end.
In an emotional post-match interview, the tearful Brazilian icon confirmed there would be no comeback.
"I tried. I tried. It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over,' he said.
Neymar walks away from international football after a remarkable 16-year career that saw him win 130 caps, score 80 goals and provide 59 assists.
He retires as Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer and their second-most-capped player, eclipsing Pele's scoring record to cement his status as one of the greatest players in the nation's history.
Neymar has announced his immediate retirement from international football after Brazil's World Cup dream was shattered by Norway
|GETTY
In his final game, however, it was Erling Haaland and Norway who upstaged him.
Haaland scored twice to fire his side through to the quarter-finals, where they'll face the winner of England's clash with Norway.
Brazil will left to rue what might have been, especially with Bruno Guimaraes missing an earlier penalty.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Every team to have won the World Cup | GETTY/GB NEWSSpeaking after the game, Carlo Ancelotti admitted Neymar would have taken the spot-kick had he been on the field.
Referring to a statistical analysis they'd used to give Guimaraes the responsibility, he said: "According to that, Neymar was the best person to take the penalty, and then Raphinha, and then Bruno.
"So we chose him as we felt he was the best on the field."
Ancelotti also suggested that Brazil lacked rhythm due to Norway's dilligent defending.
"At the beginning it seemed to me we were a controlled team, we were creating opportunities," explained the Italian.
"It was difficult to put on too much pressure because Norway was locking its defence, applying too much is a risk.
Neymar was devastated after Norway ended Brazil's hopes of World Cup glory | GETTY"We need some young talent, we need some high-level players coming into Brazilian football.
"I think we did a solid job, but that’s football for you, that’s sports. Sometimes you have to taste defeat."
Norway, meanwhile, will look ahead to their maiden World Cup quarter-final with huge excitement.
With Haaland leading the line, they're quickly becoming a dark horse to win the tournament.