Neymar has revisited Brazil’s 2022 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Croatia, characterizing the experience with an extreme personal comparison, stating that it felt comparable to attending his own funeral.

At the time of the match in Qatar, Brazil led 1-0 in extra time after Neymar scored, placing the team minutes away from a semifinal berth. Croatia equalized late and subsequently won 4-2 in the penalty shootout, eliminating Brazil.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, had been assigned to take the fifth penalty in the shootout, a role often given to a player perceived as capable of handling maximum pressure. Due to the shootout ending before a fifth Brazilian penalty was required, he did not take a kick.

He explained that he has typically taken the fifth penalty throughout his career, acknowledging that while it is considered the most difficult, there is a structural risk that the sequence may conclude before that attempt is reached. In this case, that risk materialized, leaving him as an unused taker while teammates missed earlier attempts.

Neymar described the post-match environment at the team hotel as marked by silence and visible emotional distress among players and staff. He reported experiencing intense psychological shock, interpreting the collective reaction as if a catastrophic event had occurred.

He further stated that the scene resembled what he imagines his own funeral would look like, noting the presence of family members and others with red eyes and minimal conversation. He framed this as a subjective perception of being metaphorically “inside a coffin” while others reacted to the defeat.

The result reinforced a broader national pattern: Brazil, despite holding five World Cup titles, has not won the tournament since 2002. For Neymar, the 2022 elimination represented his third unsuccessful World Cup campaign, in contrast to his long-stated ambition to lead Brazil to another title.

Currently 34 and recovering from a serious knee injury involving a torn ACL and meniscus, Neymar remains outside the national team setup. He has indicated an intention to return to international competition and to participate in Brazil’s next World Cup cycle, maintaining the objective of contributing to a future title despite prior setbacks.