[Football World Cup Column]Qatar World Cup quarterfinals, Brazil vs. Croatia. Neymar scored the opening goal in the first half of the extension, but following all, “Seleson” was defeated at the end of the penalty shootout. Will Neymar, who said, “This tournament will be my last,” be able to get back on his feet once more?
From Heaven to Hell
It was supposed to be a night that would change everything for Neymar and cement his ‘legacy’.
Over the years he has been compared to great legends. But he didn’t stand by his shoulders either. “Something’s missing,” critics say. Everyone knows what it is. Because they are defined by their trophies, not just their talent and goals. For Brazilians, it’s the World Cup. Legends have won the trophy at least once. But Neymar isn’t even close to it yet.
At that moment that night, when we weaved through the Croatian defenders and put the ball into the net, everyone was like, ‘This is what we’ve been waiting for! It was a career-defining moment, the moment “Seleção” hauled in the gold trophy that had been elusive for 20 years. Alongside the legendary Pelé’s 77 goals, it was Neymar’s moment to cement the ‘legacy’ he has been waiting for at the World Cup.
But it all went crazy in a matter of minutes. Things have progressed so quickly and so brutally that Neymar, who came so close to being a legend, shed uncontrollable tears. Has anyone ever been pushed from heaven to hell like this? How can we define his “legacy” as the story changes dramatically?
■ Pain
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About 20 minutes from becoming a national hero to securing a great Croatian victory. How cruel can this sport be?
After Croatia’s victory was confirmed, Neymar’s tears didn’t stop. He mightn’t get up for a while, and following a while he started walking. His teammates, who cheered when he scored a spectacular goal, might not console him this time.
This pain, of course, is shared by all Brazilians. But there are pains that only he feels. He’s the one chasing the legend. Day following day, he continues to fight once morest legends. That’s why the defeat this time is accompanied by new pain.
Others are easy to remember. 2014 World Cup injury, 2015 Copa America suspension. Lost the 2018 World Cup, missed the 2019 Copa America…
But this time the pain will be the worst ever.
It was destined to be a legendary story. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Pele, who was battling illness, watching. No Brazilian has scored more goals than him. Everyone can agree on that. That goal was beautiful.
But that goal awakened a sleeping lion. And on the contrary, the Brazilian players seemed to have fallen asleep. Catching up, they were horrified by Croatia’s onslaught, giving way to a penalty shootout and finally succumbing.
Neymar never took a penalty kick. This tragedy is even more heartbreaking. All I might do was watch Rodrigo and Marquinhos fail. The man who stands for Brazil might only feel helpless to save the night.
And each of those penalty failures, fair or unfair, is burned into his mind. His international ‘legacy’ is a complicated one, and he says he may not have much of a chance to repair it.
“I think[the Qatar World Cup]will be the last World Cup,” he said in a DAZN documentary last year. “I don’t know if I have the strength to face football any longer, so I think it’s the last time. , I’ll do anything.”
However, it did not come true. Instead, many tears have flowed, just like in 2014 when she failed to win a trophy in her home country. After the game, he said:
“I’m not going to close the door to the national team, but I’m not 100 per cent guaranteed to go back. I need to think a little more regarding what’s right for me and the national team.”
■ Is it the last tournament or…
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“Is he a legend?”
His place in football is judged by supporters and critics. Goals, beauty, playfulness, titles, dives, simulations, transfer to PSG, tears, it’s all complicated. Few modern stars are more divisive than Neymar. That won’t change anytime soon.
With the World Cup trophy in hand, you mightn’t deny it. This may have been his best chance. This ‘Seleçon’ had more talent in every position than ever before. But soccer is not so easy. Any giant can fall.
In the end, his tears never stopped. He was brazen when he hugged Ivan Perisic’s son, who rushed over to comfort him, but he still mightn’t contain his welling up and disappeared into the dark underground tunnels.
Will Neymar have the strength, the will, to try once more? Is it fair that countries around the world, not just Brazil, ask him for it?
We’ll see if he can rise up once more for the final step, the last chance to change the narrative. But if this is the last, what a sad farewell.
Interview and text: Ryan Tolmich
