DOHA: Neymar was distraught, inconsolable. He sat on the pitch, tears rolling down his eyes. He just didn’t want to leave the Education City Stadium. Nor did he want to leave Qatar. Not in this way, not this early anyway. Winning his first World Cup would’ve brought up the ‘Hexa’ for Brazil, a sixth title at the world’s grandest stage two decades after they won their last. He had stood at the centre of the pitch, powerless to influence, when his dream died on Friday night.

A few metres away from Neymar, there was jubilation. Croatian players screamed in delight, running to their goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic after Marquinhos’ penalty had cannoned off the post. Their 4-2 shootout win after the two teams finished extra-time at 1-1 — Neymar’s superb opener for Brazil in the 105th cancelled out by Bruno Petkovic with three minutes to go — sending them into a semi-final against Brazil’s arch-rivals Argentina.

Brazil had exited the last World Cup in Russia at this very stage. Four years before that, in the World Cup they hosted, they suffered that infamous 7-1 drubbing by Germany in the semi-final which the injured Neymar watched from the hospital. It was at that very World Cup that Neymar had announced his arrival; scoring twice against the very same opponents in the opening game. It would be a strange twist of fate if this defeat to Croatia ends up being his last game at world football’s greatest stage.

In the aftermath of this defeat, coach Tite announced it was the “end of his cycle” as Brazil's coach. It brought the curtains down on the careers of veteran defenders Thiago Silva, 38, and Dani Alves, 39. But will it also spell the end for the 30-year-old Neymar? The answer to that — not a decisive one for now — came over an hour after the end of the quarter-final.

The Brazil players took their time to bid farewell to the dressing room at the Education City Stadium, which also hosted its last World Cup game. The Croatian players had left the stadium through the mixed zone over half an hour earlier when the first few Brazilian players began coming. The unused substitutes came first, then Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, the youngster who missed Brazil’s first penalty in the shootout.

Neymar arrived in a baseball cap, eyes still watery, the pain yet to subside and soon had a bevy of reporters gathered around him. Microphones in front of him, he was asked if this was indeed going to be the end of his Brazil career.

“Honestly, I do not know,” he said in comments translated from Portuguese. “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% that I’ll come back.

“The feeling is really bad. It’s worse today than what happened in the past. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find words to describe this moment. We tried, we fought and I’m proud of all my teammates. I’m proud of their personality, of taking the penalty, of their character, because it’s not easy to assume that responsibility.”

It’s on young forwards like Richarlison, Raphinha, Vinicius, Rodrygo and Antony that Brazil will base their future on if Neymar decides to call it a day. All of them are exciting talents and are only expected to get better when the World Cup comes along in four years’ time. That will mark 24 years since Brazil’s last triumph in 2002. That duration is the longest Brazil have had to wait between their titles; their fourth coming in 1994 after their third in 1970. Incidentally, the 1994 World Cup was hosted by the United States, which is one of three co-hosts for the 2026 edition. Neymar, though, wasn’t having any of it. “I don’t know what will happen from now on in the Brazilian team but now, it’s time to mourn,” he said.

Richarlison echoed similar emotions. “I have to apologise to our family members and our fans who believed in us until the end,” the teary-eyed 25-year-old said. “Now it’s time to go to the bedroom and cry because we are human beings, we are flesh and blood. We suffered a very painful defeat.”

Others like midfielder Casemiro and goalkeeper Allison — both the same age as Neymar — admitted that it was a difficult moment for the side but didn’t shy from looking ahead.

“It’s about lifting your head, life that goes on,” said Casemiro. “It’s a hard moment. Now it’s about having peace of mind, life has to go on. We need to see what happens now, especially now that a new coach will come in.”

Allison called on the youngsters to step up now.

“We are going to have players who have to step up now, as leaders,” said the goalkeeper who failed to keep out any Croatian attempts from 12 yards. “We have young talents who are going to improve even more and learn from this World Cup and we have more experienced players as well who can still contribute to the national team. Now it is difficult to speak about the future because we have so much pain because of the moment but hopefully, the future will be bright for us.”

But if Neymar decides to go, Brazil will have a huge void to fill. An out-and-out attacker for his club Paris St Germain, his role with Brazil is more varied. He’s also their creator; the player who makes it tick for his side and Brazil don’t have anyone with the skillset Neymar possesses.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2022