An untimely injury ahead of the 2019 Copa America robbed Neymar of an opportunity to grace that tournament, with Brazil going on to secure continental dominance in South America.
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There was plenty of talk heading into the 2022 World Cup suggesting that Neymar was readying himself for a last dance with Brazil. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar remains one of the very best in the business, but it may be too much to expect him to take in another four-year international cycle.
The plan was to land a global crown in the Middle East and bid farewell to the pressure and expectation that has followed him around since bursting onto a senior stage and being anointed as the next rightful heir to Pele’s illustrious crown.
Before a ball was kicked in Qatar, World Cup odds suggested that Brazil were the team to beat as they were the pre-tournament favourites at 5.00. With so much talent at their disposal, and with Tite boasting the kind of depth in his squad that others could only dream of, a stroll towards the most prestigious of prizes was expected to be taken in by the Selecao.
Of course, nothing is ever that straightforward and another bid for global glory was to ultimately end in tears. Despite taking the lead during extra time of a quarter-final clash with Croatia, Brazil could not hold on and saw penalty shootout heartache dash collective dreams.
Neymar was understandably distraught as another shot at major honours slipped through his grasp. The obvious question afterwards was – will he be staying on or slipping into international retirement? The man himself said: “I am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100% that I will return. I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.”
His goal against Croatia, which saw him conjure something up out of nothing, suggests that he still has a prominent role to play. It must also be noted that a personal itch will be eating away at a modern-day great, with there a desire on his part to give that a serious scratch before walking away from national duty. Despite operating at the peak of his powers over several years, Neymar has never won a major international trophy with his country.
He is an Olympic gold medal winner, having helped to deliver success on home soil at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, and got his hands on the Confederations Cup back in 2013, but the biggest of prizes have remained elusive.
An untimely injury ahead of the 2019 Copa America robbed Neymar of an opportunity to grace that tournament, with Brazil going on to secure continental dominance in South America without a talismanic No.10 to call upon.
Another bid at ending that barren run has come to a close, with an unfortunate tale of what could have been playing out at Qatar 2022. Neymar is right not to rush into any decision regarding his future, having seen it discussed at great length, and you get the sense that he will not call it quits until an individual wrong has been made right.
