In a documentary produced by DAZN, PSG and Brazil striker Neymar revealed that he thinks the Qatar World Cup will probably be his final appearance at the biggest stage.
“I think it’s my last World Cup. I see it as my last because I don’t know if I have the strength of mind to deal with football anymore,”
said the PSG winger, as per an excerpt from the film posted on DAZN’s Twitter.
Neymar will be 34 by the time the 2026 World Cup kicks off in North America. While his contemporaries such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still going strong in their mid-30s, Neymar’s career has been slightly different regarding injuries.
The winger’s playing time has been plagued with injuries. He has missed around 86 matches for the Paris-based club since his transfer in 2017. Apart from the physical difficulties, Neymar has taken a lot of criticism throughout his career, affecting his mental health.
After Brazil’s 2-0 win over Peru, Neymar lashed out at the fans by saying he deserves more respect. He overtook Brazilian great Romario during that match by becoming Selecao’s all-time top scorer in WC qualifiers. Neymar (69 international goals) now has his sights on Pele’s Brazilian record of 77 goals.
In the documentary, the PSG forward also stated that he would try his best to achieve World Cup glory during next year’s mega-event. It was his childhood dream, and he will do everything in his power to make it a reality.
The skillful winger has already won an Olympic gold medal and the 2013 Confederations Cup. However, as every single Brazilian footballer, his priority is the World Cup.
At the club level, Neymar has been reunited with former Barcelona teammate Leo Messi. While the pair haven’t been within the goals so far, PSG is playing quite good football. They are top of the Ligue 1 table and also overcame Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
