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It wasn’t supposed to end this way. Not for Brazil.
The five-time world champions entered Qatar with arguably their best squad since 2006 and were tipped by many to hoist football’s most coveted prize when it was all said and done.
Instead, they depart empty-handed courtesy of Croatia, the 2018 runners-up who continued their improbable run to the final four following a second successive triumph on penalties.
For Neymar, the Selecao’s exit hurts even more when you consider the juxtaposition that was extra-time at Education City Stadium, where one career-defining moment was met by another, albeit unlikely, last-gasp riposte.
That response came from the boot of Bruno Petković, who fired his deflected effort past Alisson with three minutes remaining and not long after Neymar had finally unlocked the Vatreni’s vault-tight defence.
The 30-year-old’s magical run and finish past Dominik Livaković brought him level with Pele for the most goals in national team history (77) and was thought to be the winner – the goal that would set up an all-South American semi-final with Argentina.
But if Petkovic put those plans on hold, Livaković cancelled them altogether with another heroic display in the shootout that rendered Neymar’s next attempt redundant.
"I’m psychologically destroyed," Neymar said in an Instagram post on Sunday.
"This was certainly the defeat that hurt me the most, which left me paralysed for 10 minutes and right after I couldn’t stop crying.
"It’s gonna hurt for a long time, unfortunately."
Brazil’s surprise elimination means they will have to wait until the 2026 World Cup – in the United States, Canada, and Mexico – to get their revenge, though it remains to be seen whether they will have their talisman at their disposal.
Neymar was non-committal after the match in Al-Rayyan, telling reporters: "Honestly, I do not know. I think talking now is bad because of the heat of the moment. Maybe I’m not thinking straight.
"To say that this is the end would be rushing myself, but I don’t guarantee anything either. Let’s see what happens going forward.
"I want to take this time to think about it, think about what I want for myself. I will not close the door to playing with Brazil, nor do I say 100 per cent that I’ll come back."
Any potential return to the world stage would come four months removed from his 34th birthday and in a role much changed to the one he’s enjoyed since 2010.
Tite’s resignation at least offers the Brazilian Football Confederation a chance to start fresh in the short term, and you feel any incoming coach would welcome Neymar with open arms.
The prospect of surpassing Pele’s total, not to mention the 2024 Copa America, could all prove too tempting for the Paris Saint-Germain star, but so would the chance to simply wear the canary yellow one last time.
Neymar would have moved joint-second with Dani Alves on Brazil’s all-time appearance list had they reached the final, having already tied Ronaldo Nazario’s record as the only Brazilian man to score multiple goals at three different World Cups.
"We fought until the end," he added in his post on social media.
"That’s what I’m proud of my teammates for, because there was no lack of commitment and dedication. This group deserved it, we deserved it, BRAZIL deserved it.
"Thank you all for your support to our national team. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out."
