Neymar says he may have played his last game for Brazil after their penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
It was a devastating defeat for the pre-tournament favourites, who looked to have won the match when Neymar opened the scoring with a brilliant goal in extra time
However, Croatia found an equaliser through Bruno Petkovic 117 minutes into the contest to force penalties and Brazil crumbled.
Rodrygo saw his first spot-kick saved and when Marquinhos struck the post with his effort, Brazil were out and Croatia were through having scored all four of their penalties.
Neymar did not even get to take a penalty as he was being saved for the fifth spot-kick, which never came about and the Paris Saint-Germain forward was left in tears on the pitch in Qatar.
Speaking after the match he was not sure whether that was his last match for his country, hinting at a possible international retirement at just 30 years old.
‘I want to take time to think about the national team and think about what I want for myself,’ he said.
‘I am not closing the door on the national team, but I am not saying 100 per cent either that I will come back.
‘I feel really bad at this moment. It is hard to take in everything that has gone on.
‘It seems like a nightmare. I just can’t believe what has happened. I will now have to take comfort from my family — but this defeat will hurt for a long time.’
On Neymar not taking a penalty, the now departed manager Tite said: ‘He is the fifth and decisive penalty taker.
‘The player who has more quality and the mentality to step up then is under greatest pressure.’
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