World Cup: Neymar says 'no guarantee' he will play for Brazil again
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Neymar reacts after Brazil's loss to Croatia in the World Cup quarter-final.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
DOHA - Brazil star Neymar on Friday hinted he might quit international football, saying he could not “100 per cent” guarantee he would play for the national team again.
Speaking after his side’s World Cup quarter-final loss on penalties to Croatia
“I am not closing any doors on the national team, but I am also not guaranteeing 100 per cent that I will return,” said an emotional Neymar, 30.
“I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.”
Neymar equalled Pele’s record tally of 77 goals for Brazil with a brilliant strike on Friday, but Bruno Petkovic levelled with three minutes of extra time remaining.
The Brazilian did not take a penalty in the shoot-out. Rodrygo’s effort was saved by Dominik Livakovic and Marquinhos hit the post, while Croatia scored all four of their efforts to win the shoot-out 4-2.
Four years ago in Russia, Neymar and Brazil were eliminated by Belgium at the same stage. In 2014, the Selecao were humiliated 7-1 in the semi-finals by Germany without Neymar, who missed the game with an injury.
“It is an awful feeling, this is a worse feeling than what happened at the last World Cup,” added Neymar.
“It is difficult to find the words to describe this moment. We fought and I am proud of my teammates, proud of the character they showed to step up and take penalties.”
Neymar, who has 124 Brazil caps, will be 34 by the time the next World Cup comes around in North America in 2026.
In 2021, Brazil’s brittle No. 10 hinted that he would not appear at another World Cup, suggesting in one interview that he might not have the mental strength “to put up with even more football”.
He has carried the hopes of a nation into three World Cups since his emergence as a generational talent at Santos – scoring eight World Cup goals but the tournament has exposed his vulnerable physique and fragile emotions.
In a heartwarming moment, Leonardo Perisic, the son of Croatia winger Ivan, ran onto the pitch after the game to where Neymar stood distraught, appeared to give the Brazilian some words of comfort, before the pair embraced.
In an Instagram message on Saturday, Pele congratulated Neymar on matching his goal record and urged him to “keep inspiring us”.
“I will continue punching the air with happiness with every goal you score, as I have done in every game I’ve seen you on the pitch,” said the 82-year-old, who is battling colon cancer and was hospitalised earlier in December.
Brazil coach Tite, meanwhile, confirmed that he will be stepping down. The 61-year-old, who has been in charge since 2016, had previously said he will leave his position after Qatar 2022, regardless of the outcome.
“It is a painful defeat, but I go in peace. It is the end of a cycle,” he told reporters at Doha’s Education City Stadium.
“I already said that a year and a half ago. I didn’t come here to win and then turn around and say I was going to stay. People who know me know that.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation had said it will not choose its next coach until January.
Asked to assess his stint, Tite said: “In time, I will be able to respond better.... I don’t have the capacity to do that now after we have been eliminated.” AFP, REUTERS
