For more than a decade, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has been the face of Brazilian football. Equal parts genius and enigma, he has carried the hopes of a nation desperate to relive its glory days. With 79 goals for the Seleção, Neymar stands as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Pelé’s once-untouchable record. Yet his international career is a story of dazzling moments and frustrating near-misses, a reminder of the burden that comes with wearing the famous yellow shirt.
The Early Promise
Neymar’s Brazil debut came in 2010, a teenager already heralded as the heir to Pelé and Ronaldinho. His first goal, a header against the United States, was a glimpse of what was to come. Blessed with extraordinary dribbling, flair, and a natural eye for goal, Neymar quickly became indispensable.
By the time the 2014 World Cup arrived on home soil, he was Brazil’s undisputed talisman. His goals in the group stage against Croatia and Cameroon carried the Seleção forward, his celebrations filled with boyish joy. For a nation still haunted by its failures in 2006 and 2010, Neymar offered hope.
The 2014 Trauma
That dream unravelled in dramatic fashion. In the quarter-final against Colombia, Neymar suffered a fractured vertebra after a brutal challenge from Juan Camilo Zúñiga. Brazil survived the match but lost their star. Four days later, without him, they suffered their most infamous defeat: the 7-1 humiliation to Germany in Belo Horizonte.
Though Neymar was absent, his tears in the stands symbolised the pain of a nation. Many believed that had he been fit, Brazil’s fate might have been different.
Copa América Glory
Redemption came in part at the Copa América. Neymar was central in Brazil’s run to the 2019 title, though suspension kept him out of the final. Later, in 2021, he starred again, helping Brazil reach the final in Rio de Janeiro, only to lose to Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The image of Neymar in tears, consoled by his club teammate, captured both his brilliance and his curse: so often the nearly man in international tournaments.
World Cup 2018 and 2022
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Neymar scored twice, including a decisive strike against Mexico in the round of 16. But his performances were overshadowed by theatrics: his rolling on the ground after fouls became a global meme, distracting from his contributions. Brazil exited in the quarter-finals, beaten by Belgium.
In 2022, in Qatar, Neymar again shouldered the weight. He produced a moment of magic in the quarter-final against Croatia, scoring a stunning extra-time goal that seemed destined to carry Brazil through. But Croatia equalised late, then won on penalties. Once again, Neymar walked off in tears, carrying the disappointment of a nation.
The Record-Breaker
Despite the heartbreak, Neymar’s numbers for Brazil are extraordinary. His goals have come in every form: free kicks, penalties, poacher’s finishes, solo dribbles. In 2023, he overtook Pelé’s record of 77 international goals, a feat once thought impossible. For all the criticism, the achievement cements his place in history.
Legacy in the Yellow Shirt
Neymar’s Brazil career is one of contradictions. He is the nation’s record scorer and often its most dazzling player, yet he has never lifted the World Cup, the ultimate measure in Brazil. His brilliance has been undeniable, but injuries and controversies have often obscured it.
For some, Neymar represents wasted potential — a superstar who dazzled without fully delivering. For others, he is a victim of impossible expectations, a generational talent who carried too much on his shoulders.
What is certain is that when Neymar finally steps away, Brazil will feel his absence. For more than a decade, every flick, dribble, and goal carried the echo of Pelé, Romário, and Ronaldo. Whether loved or doubted, Neymar has left an indelible mark on the Seleção.
