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Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazario has publicly appealed to Neymar, asking the forward not to make any hasty decisions about retiring from international football after Brazil’s heartbreaking exit from the 2026 World Cup. The Santos star had hinted that his time with the Selecao was over following their unexpected defeat in North America, but Ronaldo has advised him to take time before making any final decision.

Ronaldo calls for patience

In the emotional aftermath of Brazil’s Round of 16 elimination, the nation’s all-time top scorer appeared to signal the end of his international career. However, Ronaldo stepped in to offer his perspective to the 34-year-old, stressing that the aftermath of a major tournament defeat is not the right time to make life-changing choices about one’s future in the iconic yellow jersey.

Speaking during an interview with Rede Ronaldo and TNT Sports Brasil, the former striker was clear in his advice. “Don’t demand anything from yourself and don’t decide anything now, you don’t need to. Nobody needs to resolve anything right now,” Ronaldo said, encouraging Neymar to allow himself time to process the disappointment of the campaign.

A sacrifice for Brazil

Ronaldo also pointed out the tremendous physical commitment Neymar showed just to participate in the World Cup in North America. Despite battling persistent fitness issues for an extended period, Neymar managed to feature as Brazil suffered a surprising 2-1 loss to Norway, a result that led to his tearful comments after the match.

“He will go back to his club, he will play again. We cannot forget that he is coming from two years of serious injury,” Ronaldo explained. “He came to this World Cup as a sacrifice. He will regain his rhythm again. He will play 10, 15 matches in a row. He will start scoring goals again and rebuild his confidence.”

Ancelotti and the path to 2030

The 2002 World Cup champion believes that if Neymar remains fit, he will continue to be an important player for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. Even though Neymar has already been seen participating in a World Series of Poker event after the tournament, Ronaldo expects his competitive spark to reignite once the domestic season resumes and he fully recovers from his physical setbacks.

“Soon he’ll be motivated again, and who knows, maybe Ancelotti will consider him as an option for the Brazilian national team,” said the ex-Real Madrid star. He emphasised that Neymar’s skill is unquestionable, adding: “He has the technical ability. Now, he just needs to be physically ready so that he can make the difference.”

Retirement talk and AI tributes

Neymar’s initial comments at the MetLife Stadium seemed definitive when he said: “I tried. I tried. It started here and I finished here. It is now over.” His words sparked widespread sadness across Brazil for a career that produced 80 international goals but fell short of delivering the country’s coveted sixth world title.

However, speculation about a 2030 comeback is already circulating online. The forward recently reacted emotionally to an AI-generated video depicting him making one last attempt at the World Cup. With Ronaldo now joining the growing number of voices urging him to continue, the possibility of a dramatic return remains very much alive.