Neymar Says World Cup in Qatar 2022 may be his last for Brazil
Neymar jr. is WOrld’s top 3rd footballer after Cristiano and Lionell Messi.
Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil’s Neymar has revealed that he expects the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to be his last. Speaking with DAZN in the documentary Neymar Jr. and the Line of Kings, the 29-year-old confessed that he expects next year’s event to be his last one in the tournament with the Selecao Brasileira at the age of 30.
Why Neymar will not be able, mentally, to endure more soccer.
“Man, I think it will be my last World Cup,” said the $257 million man. “I am facing it like the last World Cup because I do not know whether I will be able, mentally, to endure more soccer. I will do everything possible to get there very well.”
Neymar, who is in action this Sunday against Colombia in Brazil’s latest World Cup qualifier, also admitted feeling frustrated at a perceived lack of recognition for what he has done with his country on the international stage.
“I will do all I can to win it with my country and realize my dream,” he said. “The biggest since my boyhood and I hope I can achieve it. I do not know what else I need to do with this shirt for people to respect Neymar.”While things are going smoothly with Brazil thanks to nine wins from nine World Cup qualifiers so far, Neymar is enduring a tough start to the season with PSG after extending his contract in the French capital earlier this year.
The striker did not play in Thursday’s 3-1 Brazil win at Venezuela due to suspension.
The match in Barranquilla will mark Neymar’s return since the 2-0 win against Peru on Sept. 10, in which he turned in a key Brazil performance with an assist and a goal. Despite his efforts, Neymar made clear after the match that he is upset with the treatment he gets at home.
“I don’t know what else I need to do with this shirt for people to respect Neymar,” he said. Local media accused the striker of being out of shape in the 1-0 win at Chile earlier in September, which prompted the striker to walk around shirtless during training to show how fit he is.
Against Peru, Neymar overtook Romario as Brazil’s top goal scorer in World Cup qualifiers, with 12 goals. He is also approaching Pele’s record of 77 official goals for Brazil. The Paris Saint-Germain striker has scored 69 times for Brazil.
Neymar has so far played at two World Cups. In 2014, he picked up a back injury in the quarterfinals against Colombia, which stopped him from playing in the 7-1 humiliation against Germany in the semifinals.
In the most recent edition of the tournament, Neymar had just returned from a serious foot injury and turned in an unimpressive performance in Brazil’s 2-1 quarterfinals defeat to Belgium. He left Russia amid heavy criticism for his apparently exaggerated reaction to being fouled.