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The end of an era for the Brazilian national team
The World Cup has come to an end and, with it, some of football’s most memorable stories have also drawn to a close.
One such story, it would seem, was Neymar’s career with the Brazilian national team.
Over the course of 16 years, four World Cups and 130 appearances for the senior national team, the number 10 has become one of the greatest idols in the history of the ‘Amarelinha’. The pinnacle of this legacy came when he became the national team’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 80 goals.
“Ney”, a nine-time nominee for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award, was also a key figure in the team’s victories at the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2016 Olympic gold medal.
The most coveted trophy, however, always eluded him.
Following Brazil’s elimination by Norway, the 34-year-old officially announced his retirement from the national team. Just minutes earlier, he had scored from the penalty spot what turned out to be his final goal for his country.
His farewell resonated throughout the world of football and moved all those who had followed, over so many years, his talent and his unique way of embodying the ‘beautiful game’.
An inspiration to a new generation
As well as the fans, several leading figures in the sport also paid tribute to the star following his farewell.
“Neymar shaped the childhoods of all today’s players.” – Lamine Yamal
The Barcelona sensation, Lamine Yamal, who has just won his first World Cup at the age of 18, has stated on several occasions that Neymar has always been one of his greatest inspirations. Following Brazil’s elimination, the youngster expressed both sadness and gratitude when speaking about his idol: “He shaped the childhoods of all today’s players. Anything good that happens to him will be good for me.” (Estadão)
After Spain beat Argentina to win their second World Cup title, Nico Williams – Yamal’s team-mate and the man who provided the assist for Ferran Torres’s decisive goal in extra time – also made a point of paying tribute to the Santos star: “Neymar is my idol. I hope he’s watching us – this is for him too.” (CazéTV)
The influence of Neymar’s irreverent style is evident in every move made by forwards such as Yamal and Williams. They grew up watching the Brazilian dismantle defences with talent and skill, and now they carry that legacy onto the pitch.
Thus, the mark left by the Brazilian star lives on in the new generation, who keep alive a style of play based on daring, creativity and spectacle.
Neymar’s magic that enchanted the world
This style of play, which Neymar embodies so well, was also the subject of comments from various players and managers around the world as they reflected on his farewell to the Brazilian national team.
“I would have loved to have coached Neymar.” – Pep Guardiola
The legendary manager Pep Guardiola, winner of six Premier League titles and one Champions League with Manchester City, admitted: “As a manager, I’d have loved to have managed Neymar. Not that I have any regrets, as that could never have happened, but I really admire his elegance. The beauty of his movements. I’m referring to his peak at Barcelona – alongside Suárez and Messi, under Luis Enrique. I faced that team, unfortunately, with Bayern Munich (laughs). They were unstoppable.” (OKX)
“Iniesta told me that Neymar could do things that no one else could – not even Messi.” – Rio Ferdinand
Neymar’s time at Barcelona was also recalled recently by former English centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who went even further in his analysis: “He was the best player in that Barcelona side, even with Messi and Suárez in the team. Neymar was the best. He moved really well off the ball, he was quick, strong in one-on-ones, at making runs behind the defence, in his movement… I never saw that version of him again after his first year at PSG. He was a different player. I wish he’d stayed at Barcelona. I’m sure that, in time, he would have won theBallon d'Or. I spoke to [Andrés] Iniesta, and he told me that Neymar was different. He told me that Neymar could do things that no one else could – not even Messi.” (CazéTV)
The price of living up to such high expectations
At times, Neymar has been criticised for his lifestyle off the pitch. Some fans question whether he could have dedicated himself even more to his fitness and training regime, but Ferdinand disagrees with this view. In his view, some of this pressure stems from the context of Neymar’s generation and the lack of other big names around him to share the responsibility: “If Romário went out to party and didn’t play, there were Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto to hold the team together. If Ronaldinho or Adriano wanted to go out one day, relax and have a few drinks, who was there to take on the responsibility? Again, Ronaldo and Rivaldo, as well as Kaká. But when Neymar wanted to do that, who was there to make up for his absence? No one. People criticise Neymar, but I don’t think that’s fair.” (CazéTV)
Another former player who shares the view that Neymar has faced disproportionate criticism is the 2002 World Cup winner Vampeta. In his view, the burden of being the national team’s star player for so many years was too great for a single player to bear: “I think that, at times, the lads who could have shared that responsibility with Neymar didn’t do so. They’d join the national team and keep to themselves, without taking on that role. They left him on his own.” (Jovem Pan Esportes)
The weight of the number 10 shirt
On the other hand, some fans believe that one of the main reasons Brazil failed to live up to expectations in this World Cup was precisely the fact that Neymar did not fulfil the leadership role he used to take on within the squad – a role he had fulfilled in all his previous World Cups (in 2014, 2018 and 2022).
One of those who supports this view is Felipe Melo, who played in the 2010 World Cup – the very tournament in which Neymar was left out of the squad by then-manager Dunga, a decision that caused a huge outcry amongst Brazilian fans. Disappointed by this year’s elimination, Melo stated: “Carlo Ancelotti must be held accountable, along with his coaching staff. I understand that the manager has his convictions, but he also needs to be a bit more understanding. I would have brought Neymar on straight from the start. Perhaps, if he’d been on the pitch in the first half, he would have scored the penalty and the match would have been a different story.” (SporTV)
The statement refers to the penalty missed by Bruno Guimarães in the first half, which was saved by Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.
Although Nyland failed to save Neymar’s penalty in the final minutes of the match, it wasn’t enough for the Brazilians to secure a draw. Following the historic victory, many of Norway’s players not only celebrated the result but also made a point of showing admiration and respect for the star player they had just faced.
Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland, winner of the Gerd Müller Trophy in 2023, posted photos of themselves hugging Neymar on their Instagram accounts after the match.
Winger Andreas Schjelderup went even further and shared a picture alongside Neymar with a simple caption: ‘Idol’.
But whilst the Norwegian players were paying tribute to Neymar after the final whistle, the debate in Brazil quickly returned to focusing on how Ancelotti had utilised the veteran throughout the tournament.
“I would never let Neymar go. For the next cycle, I want to see Neymar on the pitch.” – Rogério Micale
The 2002 World Cup winner Edílson ‘Capetinha’ also criticised Ancelotti’s decision to take Neymar to the World Cup without using him much on the pitch, but for a different reason to that put forward by Felipe Melo. In his view, the number 10 shouldn’t even have been called up: “You can’t go in saying you won’t take a player who’s injured and then suddenly go back on your word. So, I think Ancelotti’s planning was flawed. He made one promise and then did the opposite. All of this ends up disrupting the squad.” (CNN Brasil)
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Rogério Micale, meanwhile – the manager who led Neymar and Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in football in 2016 – shares a similar view to Melo’s. In his view, Neymar should have been called up as the national team’s star player, with the ability to lead the side in pursuit of major honours: “Neymar should have been utilised more effectively, just as Messi is, just as Cristiano Ronaldo is, just as Salah is. The star player, the man who makes the difference, has something special to contribute. I think there’s a certain weight that comes with being who he is, including for the other players. I would never do without Neymar. For the next cycle, I want to see Neymar on the pitch. I pay for a ticket to see Neymar. There are plenty of matches in Brazil I wouldn’t go to even if I were invited. If Neymar is playing, provided he’s in even the slightest fit, I’ll go to the stadium. Neymar is undisputed.” (ESPN)
Micale wasn’t the only one surprised by Neymar’s decision to end his career with the Brazilian national team.
Another giant of Brazilian football, two-time ‘Ballon d'Or’ winner and 2002 World Cup legend Ronaldo, appeared genuinely moved and surprised by Ney’s decision and urged the star to reconsider: “Neymar, don’t put any pressure on yourself and don’t decide anything just yet. There’s no need. Nobody needs to make a decision right now. We mustn’t forget that he’s coming off two years of a serious injury. He’s made a huge sacrifice to be here for this World Cup. Before long, he’ll be back in spirits and, who knows, perhaps Ancelotti might see him as an option for the Brazilian national team.” (TNT Sports)
A farewell that moved even his rivals
Despite the pleas, everything suggests that Neymar’s time in the Brazilian national team shirt has come to an end after more than 15 years marked by unforgettable moments.
The star’s influence on the pitch is so great that even players from Argentina – Brazil’s biggest rival in football – expressed their sadness at the news.
“Neymar will always be our friend.” – Leandro Paredes
Midfielder Leandro Paredes, who came on as a substitute in the second half of the World Cup final for Argentina against Spain, lamented the farewell: “I’m very fond of him. He’s a great friend. I didn’t like the way he left, but that’s part of football. He’ll always be our friend.” (ESPN)
Another example of how Neymar’s magic has managed to transcend this historic rivalry is his long-standing friendship and partnership with Messi. After Argentina beat Brazil in the 2021 Copa América final, Messi immediately ran over to hug and console Neymar, even pushing his own teammates aside to get to him.
The weight of the ‘what ifs’
The end of Ney’s time with the Amarelinha leaves a bitter aftertaste – the feeling of all that might have been: perhaps a Copa América, perhaps a World Cup…
“Neymar’s skill set was something out of the ordinary.” – Zlatan Ibrahimović
Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović spoke precisely about this following the announcement of Neymar’s retirement from the Brazilian national team: “I think people will say he could have achieved more than he did. They expected him to be the best in the world, and he wasn’t. But he is an incredible talent, an incredible player. His skill set was something out of the ordinary. It’s a sad moment for Brazilian football.” (Fox Sports)
The final chapter of an enduring story
But perhaps this idea – that Neymar could or should have achieved more – is a pessimistic way of looking at his career, given that everything he has achieved throughout his career is unquestionable and historic.
“Neymar was and always will be an extraordinary player.” – Thierry Henry
As the Frenchman Thierry Henry, 1998 World Cup winner and nine-time nominee for the ‘Ballon d'Or’, aptly summed up: “Neymar changed football through the way he played. That’s why I don’t want to talk about the World Cup or how his career ended. I want to talk about everything he has given to the sport. Neymar was and always will be an extraordinary player. I’d pay to watch him play. It’s as simple as that. We can talk about tactics, the 4-4-2, rain, altitude or any other conditions. This man was capable of playing anywhere, at any time and in any style. He made the whole world fall in love with football: with the ‘beautiful game’, with his style, with his goals, with his smile, with the way he played and with the magic he brought onto the pitch. Every child wanted to be Neymar. You wanted to be Neymar.” (Fox Sports)
And so, Neymar’s story with the Brazilian national team comes to an end without the long-dreamed-of World Cup triumph.
Even so, it is a story brimming with triumphs, historic achievements and, above all, magic – a legacy that will live on in the memories of players, coaches and fans around the world.
