Croatia pulled off the unthinkable yesterday as they knocked out the pre-tournament favourites and the 5-time world champions Brazil in the quarter-finals on penalties. It was a very close match which went as both teams weren’t separated after 90 minutes as the score was still 0-0, but in extra time at the 105th minute, it looked like Neymar had made the difference in the game after he scored a truly incredible goal to give his side the lead. That goal took him level with the Brazilian legend Pele and now both of them are levelled on 77 goals.
But later on in the second half of extra time, Croatia equalised the match in the 117th minute as the substitute Bruno Petkovic scored. This took the match to a penalty shootout and Croatia’s keeper Livakovic once again became the hero as he helped his nation to a 4-2 victory in the shootout.
After the game Neymar dropped a huge bomb on Brazil’s supporters as he hinted about his retirement, he said “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.”
The forward has still only won a single tournament with his nation which is the 2013 Confederations cup and by the 2026 World Cup, he’ll be 34 years old, this is an age where he can still play as Lionel Messi himself is playing this World Cup at the age of 35. All in all, Neymar would always be considered one of the finest footballers to ever play for Brazil.
