DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The joy of scoring one of his biggest goals for Brazil quickly turned to tears after another disappointing exit for Neymar from the national team.
The World Cup quarterfinal loss to Croatia it was hard to take for the Brazil striker, and it could mean the end of his time with the national team.
Neymar is still without a major title with Brazil, and it is unclear if he will try to return for a fourth World Cup in four years, when he is 34.
“It would be too hasty to come here and say this is it, but I can’t guarantee anything,” Neymar said after Brazil’s 4-2 loss to Croatia in a penalty shootout on Friday. “I have to take some time to think about it. I’m not closing any doors on the Seleção, but I’m not saying 100% that I want to return.”
Before the tournament in Qatar, Neymar had not ruled out that this was his last participation in the World Cup.
“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s hard to talk about it right now,” he said Friday. “Now is the time to go home and grieve.”
Not winning the title could keep him motivated to return, as his only wins with the national team so far remain the 2013 Confederations Cup title and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medal.
Neymar theoretically has until March to make a decision about his future, because that’s when South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is expected to begin.
It looked as if Neymar was going to send Brazil to the semi-finals for the first time since 2014 when he scored in extra time to level with Pele. as the national team’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals. But Croatia equalized in the final minutes and won a penalty shootout after Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed to convert their penalties for the five-time champions.
Neymar didn’t even get a chance to assist in the penalty shootout because Brazil coach Tite had booked him to take the fifth penalty, which never materialized.
“It’s hard to say that he would have made the difference (if he had taken one of the early penalties),” he said. “We cannot single out anyone. We win together and we lose together.
Reaching the semi-finals in Qatar could have meant redemption for Neymar after the 2014 tournament hosted by Brazil. He was unable to play in the semifinals after hurting his back in the quarterfinal win against Colombia, and Brazil ultimately lost to Germany 7-1.
Four years later, Neymar and Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals.
Neymar also missed the 2019 Copa América, which Brazil won at home, with a right ankle problem.
He survived another injury scare in Qatar after tearing ligaments in his right ankle in Brazil’s opening game. It wasn’t clear if he could play again, but he ended up bouncing back for the round of 16, when he scored one of Brazil’s goals in a 4-1 win over South Korea.
Neymar joined Brazil as an 18-year-old in 2010 and quickly became the country’s top star. If he leaves now, there is no clear replacement for him. Vinícius Júnior and perhaps Rodrygo, his immediate replacement in Qatar, could try to play that role.
Most fans expect Neymar to return, as does the man whose record he tied on Friday.
“Keep inspiring us,” Pelé said in a message to Neymar. “I will continue punching the air with joy for every goal you score, as I did in every game I saw you on the pitch. Our greatest duty as athletes is to inspire. To inspire our teammates today, the next generations and, above all, all those who love our sport.”
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