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| Neymar of Brazil runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium on December 09, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. |
Neymar hinted that he could retire from international football after Brazil were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup on penalties.
Tipped by many as favourites for the tournament in Qatar, Brazil thought they had secured passage to the semi-finals when the Paris Saint-Germain striker scored the opening goal in stoppage time of the first half of extra time on Friday.
But Croatia hit back to take the game to a penalty shootout, which they won 4-2 before Neymar could even take a kick.
Brazil’s talisman will be 34 by the time of the next World Cup and refused to commit his future to the national team after the defeat.
He stated: “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.
“I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.”
