- Brazil’s elimination by Croatia “psychologically killed” Neymar.
- Neymar cried after Brazil’s 4-2 quarterfinal penalty loss against Croatia.
- “I’m psychologically destroyed,” he posted on Instagram.
Neymar stated Brazil’s 2022 World Cup elimination by Croatia “psychologically killed” him.
Neymar cried after Brazil’s 4-2 quarterfinal penalty loss against Croatia.
Neymar posted on Instagram Saturday, “I’m psychologically shattered.” “The loss left me paralyzed for 10 minutes after the game, and I couldn’t stop crying.”
“It’ll hurt forever,” he said.
His Instagram post got 18.8 million likes.
Neymar intimated this could be his final World Cup and claimed he wasn’t sure if he’d return to Brazil for the Copa America.
Neymar, 30, said after the setback, “I don’t know.”
Pele asked Neymar to “continue to be an inspiration” after his tearful Instagram post on Saturday.
Neymar tied Pele as Brazil’s all-time greatest scorer with 77 goals in 124 international matches by scoring the game’s first goal in extra time on Friday. Croatia’s late equalizer and a penalty shootout win stunned Brazil.
Neymar cried after Marquinhos’ strike hit the post and gave Croatia the win.
He was supposed to take the fifth missed penalty.
Dani Alves embraced a grieving Neymar post-match as he processed his fate.
“He should have taken the fifth and decisive penalty,” Tite said. “The player with the highest quality and mental ability will lead under pressure.”
Pele, 82, who is battling illness, thanked Neymar on Instagram for tying his record.
“I saw you grow up, I cheered for you every day, and now I can congratulate you on equaling my amount of goals,” Pele wrote. “We realize it’s more than a number. As athletes, we must inspire.
He termed Neymar an “inspiration”
“Today is not the happiest for us, but you will always be an inspiration,” the football great said. Time grows our legacy, I’ve discovered. No one has come close to my record in 50 years. You did it!”
Brazilian fans in Doha and throughout the world were emotional at Brazil’s exit.
“The sadness is too much,” a Brazil fan told Al Jazeera following Friday’s play. Our team was world-class.
FIFA put Brazil first in the 2022 World Cup. The loss hurt many South American supporters, who would have to wait four years for redemption.
Souza: “We were convinced we could win, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Losing hurts.”
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