What happens to Brazil in Qatar could be crucial in defining the legacy of the Selecao’s biggest star. At the same age, Pele had three World Cup winners’ medals around his neck and was retired from international football – now, Neymar’s moment of truth has arrived
Words Marcus Alves
NEYMAR
The shrill blast of a referee’s whistle echoes all around Chile’s Estadio Monumental, signalling the end of a match. The stadium, in the southeastern suburbs of capital Santiago, is less than one-quarter full, as the embers of COVID-19 still flicker. Brazil have just won their seventh straight 2022 World Cup qualifier. Yet after this gritty 1-0 victory in September 2021, Neymar is subjected to the sort of criticism he’s never faced in his career to this point.
For the first time, he’s the target of claims that he’s overweight. He reacts the same way he usually does, via social media.
“Did we play well? No! Did we win? Yes! So f**k it, we continue,” he wrote. “Note: the jersey was a large, I’m already at my normal weight. Next game I’ll get a medium one.” It was a sign that all was not well.
Seven days later, Brazil’s totemic No.10 (presumably wearing the correct-sized shirt) inspired the Selecao to a dominant 2-0 win over Peru. In true Neymar style he got three opposition players booked in the first half, laid on Everton Ribeiro’s opening goal and found the back of the net himself to become his country’s all-time top-scorer in World Cup qualifiers. Celebrating his strike, he lifted his shirt to show his physique.
He didn’t stop there, either. In a post-game interview, Neymar hit out at the suggestions that he was out of shape.
“I don’t know what else I have to do with this shirt for people to respect Neymar,” he third-personned. “It has become normal now – it has been like this for a long time. And it comes from you: reporters, pundits and others, too. Sometimes I don’t even like to come to interviews any more, but at important occasions like this I have to show up.” He returned his toys back to his pram.
“Obviously, the team is the main thing – I have always stressed it,” added the then 29-year-old. “At the same time, I’m happy to be the national team’s leading scorer in qualifiers, the player with the most assists and soon, if all goes well, it will be an honour to pass Pele as the all-time top scorer.”
Those words were particularly relevant, because a year on they remain the only time the Paris Saint-Germain star has publicly spoken about overtaking O Rei as Brazil’s premier marksman. They weren’t supposed to spark con
