Neymar, the Brazilian star forward, addressed the team’s disappointing exit from the World Cup in Qatar after their quarter-final defeat. He spoke with evident emotion as he reflected on the match and the broader outcome for Brazil, signaling that a full personal assessment would come in the days ahead.
“I know this isn’t the moment to say too much because the feelings are still raw, but I can’t pretend nothing happened either. We will see what unfolds next,” he said. The conversation hinted at a period of contemplation about his own future with the national team, without closing the door to a possible return.
He added, with a heavy sense of disappointment, that the pain of Brazil’s elimination would linger. “Now it’s time to head home and deal with this loss there,” Neymar remarked, conveying the emotional toll of the campaign as reported by Globo Sports.
The quarter-final fixture against Croatia finished level at 1-1 after extra time, with Neymar and Bruno Petkovic exchanging goals. Croatia ultimately prevailed in the penalty shootout, edging Brazil 4-2 as Dominik Livakovic stopped one Brazilian attempt and another struck the post. The result sent Croatia into the semi-finals for the second consecutive World Cup, while Brazil’s run came to a close earlier than hoped.
Across the tournament, Neymar contributed in three appearances and netted two goals, underscoring his ongoing influence on the squad despite the team’s final outcome.
In the wake of the defeat, reports circulated that Tite had stepped down as Brazil’s head coach following the Qatar campaign, a development that added to the sense of transition and uncertainty around the team’s immediate future and path forward on the international stage.