Neymar shared a heated exchange with Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland after converting a late penalty during Brazil’s 2-1 defeat in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, a moment that added extra drama to the five-time champions’ shock exit.Brazil’s hopes of lifting a sixth World Cup came to an end as Erling Haaland scored twice late on to fire Norway into the quarter-finals, leaving Neymar with only a stoppage-time consolation from the penalty spot.The incident unfolded moments before Neymar took the spot-kick.Nyland, who had already produced one of the saves of the tournament by denying Bruno Guimarães from the penalty spot earlier in the match, attempted to unsettle the Brazilian star with some last-minute mind games.According to DAZN, Neymar repeatedly asked the Norwegian goalkeeper, “Where do you want it?” as he prepared to take the penalty.Nyland responded confidently: “I’ll stop it for you, I’ll stop it.”Neymar, however, had the final word.The 34-year-old calmly converted the penalty before turning towards Nyland and saying, “Not to me! Not to me!”, making it clear he believed the psychological tactics would not work against him.Despite winning that personal battle, the goal came too late to change the outcome of the contest.Haaland’s late brace had already put Norway in control, securing a historic 2-1 victory that sent the Scandinavian nation into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the men’s team’s history while eliminating one of the tournament favourites.The defeat also marked the end of an era for Brazilian football.After the match, Neymar announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a career that began on August 10, 2010, when he made his Brazil debut against the United States at MetLife Stadium.“I tried,” Neymar said. “It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over.”Hampered by a persistent right calf injury, Neymar featured in only two of Brazil’s five matches during the tournament and also made a brief 15-minute appearance against Scotland in the group stage.Although he managed to score in what proved to be his final appearance for Brazil, his goal was merely a consolation as Norway celebrated one of the greatest victories in the country’s football history.
