All eyes on Neymar Jr. as he announces that the 2022 world cup might be his last.
The Brazilian phenom and Paris Saint-Germain’s striker Neymar Jr. has revealed that he expects 2022 world cup to be his last. In a recent documentary Neymar Jr. and the Line of Kings, he said the following: “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.”
The Santos youth academy graduate has endured criticism about his weight both with club and country as he closes on Pele’s record of 77 official Brazil goals with his current count at 69 after overtaking Romario as his country’s leading qualification scorer. This criticism may be one of the reasons Neymar wants to leave.
Football is a religion in Brazil and while Neymar has certainly made his mark with his unmatched skill on the ball, he still misses the most important requirement, the world cup. Cursed like his current PSG teammate Lionel Messi, he too has taken part in the competition several times but has failed to bring home the trophy. Neymar was also part of the Brazilian squad beaten by Argentina for the Copa America title on home soil this summer.
Many fans would think back to the 2014 world cup, when Neymar’s tournament was cut short in the quarter finals when he endured a rather serious back injury. What would have happened If Neymar would have been fit for the semi-final against Germany? One can only wonder. Was that his best chance to win the world cup?
Well, it’s been many nights since the 2014 world cup and Brazil are going into the 2022 world cup with a young but strong team. Brazil looks well placed to progress to the tournament, winning each of their opening nine games in qualification. They are currently eight points clear of nearest challengers Argentina, who they are yet to face after their September meeting was abandoned after Brazilian health officials stormed the field.
As well as being desperate to lift the World Cup next year, Neymar will also be targeting a Champions League triumph this campaign. Which should certainly help with the morale going into the world cup. He is at the moment part of one of the best forward lines ever assembled with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Neymar is desperate to silence his critics and there is no stage better than the world cup to do that.
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