The scars of the 2022 FIFA World Cup are still fresh for Brazilian superstar Neymar. In a highly candid reflection, the 34-year-old forward provided a chilling description of the immediate aftermath of Brazil’s shock quarter-final elimination at the hands of Croatia, comparing the devastating atmosphere to a funeral.
The Heartbreak of the Penalty Shootout
The match in Qatar remains one of the most painful chapters in Brazil’s modern football history. After a tense, scoreless regulation period, Neymar produced a moment of absolute magic in extra time to put the Seleção ahead, seemingly booking their ticket to the semi-finals. However, a late Croatian equalizer forced the game into a tense penalty shootout.
Croatia eventually triumphed 4-2 on penalties after Brazil missed two of their first four attempts. Neymar, who traditionally steps up for the decisive fifth penalty, watched helplessly as the shootout ended before he even had the chance to take his kick. The missed opportunity and the agonizing defeat still deeply haunt the former PSG and Barcelona star.
“Like Attending My Own Funeral”
Opening up about the intense emotional fallout, Neymar painted a vivid and heartbreaking picture of the dressing room following the elimination.
“I saw what my funeral would be like,” Neymar revealed. He described sitting in a small room, completely surrounded by silent, devastated teammates, family, and friends. The overwhelming sense of grief and failure made him feel as though he were lying in a coffin.
The sentiment is one shared by his teammates; forward Richarlison previously likened the defeat to losing a family member. For Neymar, the loss felt like the sudden death of a lifelong dream, magnifying the immense psychological pressure that elite players must endure on the global stage.
Will Neymar Return for the 2026 World Cup?
Neymar’s emotional honesty comes at a critical juncture in his storied career. Now 34 and back playing with his boyhood club Santos FC (amid swirling rumors of an MLS switch to FC Cincinnati), the forward has been fighting his way back to full fitness after suffering a devastating torn ACL and meniscus.
Despite his recent physical setbacks, he remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 international goals. As he works through his rehabilitation, the biggest question is whether he can regain the form, match sharpness, and psychological resilience needed to earn a call-up from Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, for the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America.
For now, the painful memory of the Croatia match serves as both a haunting reminder of what could have been, and a massive motivating factor for one final shot at international redemption.
