Neymar recently talked about the Qatar World Cup in 2022 being his last for the Brazil National team. He will be 31 by the time the tournament rolls around, and by the time the 2026 World Cup is held, he will be 35.
“I think the Qatar World Cup will be my last,” Neymar told DAZN. “I don’t know if I have the mental capacity to continue playing football.”
The Brazilian has been the subject of constant criticism from fans and has not quite been the same player since leaving Barcelona and coming to PSG in his first few years. The PSG board hopes that the arrival of Lionel Messi at the club will help Neymar get the spark back that he somehow seems to have lost.
The winger came close to winning the Copa America with the national team this year, but was defeated by Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who won their first trophy in decades. But in the shadow of the defeat, Neymar continued his wait for a major trophy with Brazil.
At 30, Neymar is still expected to deliver the World Cup next year and has a remarkable team behind him to help him do so. But, the constant criticism and comparison to elites like Messi and Ronaldo might have taken their toll on the player already.
Considering the player’s words, it seems that he will only retire from national duty and will continue to play for PSG given that he just signed a new contract with them.
