Neymar has long been regarded as one of the most talented footballers of his generation. His career has featured major club honours, individual awards, memorable goals and technical brilliance. However, despite his success at club level, the FIFA World Cup has repeatedly brought disappointment to the Brazilian forward through injuries, criticism and painful exits.
As preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, questions remain over whether the tournament in North America could become Neymar’s final opportunity to achieve success on football’s biggest international stage.
2010: Left Out Before the Tournament
Ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Neymar was emerging as one of Brazil’s brightest young talents while playing for Santos FC. His performances attracted widespread attention and many supporters called for him to be included in Brazil’s squad.
However, then Brazil coach Dunga decided not to select the teenager for the final squad. The decision generated significant debate across Brazil and marked the beginning of what many later described as Neymar’s difficult relationship with the World Cup.
2014: Injury on Home Soil
The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil was expected to be Neymar’s breakthrough tournament. Playing on home soil, he became the central figure in Brazil’s attempt to win a sixth world title.
Neymar scored against Croatia and Cameroon during the group stage and played a leading role in Brazil’s progress. However, his tournament ended during the quarter-final against Colombia after a challenge from defender Camilo Zúñiga caused a serious back injury.
The injury ruled Neymar out of the remainder of the competition. He later stated that he had narrowly avoided paralysis. Without Neymar, Brazil national football team suffered a historic 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals, one of the most significant losses in the country’s football history.
2018: Criticism and Elimination
By the time of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Neymar had become the world’s most expensive footballer following his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain F.C..
Although he contributed goals and helped Brazil reach the quarter-finals, he also faced criticism during the tournament. His reactions to fouls, particularly during the match against Mexico, became widely discussed on social media and turned into viral internet memes.
Brazil’s campaign eventually ended with a quarter-final defeat to Belgium.
2022: Another Painful Exit
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Neymar suffered an ankle injury during Brazil’s opening match against Serbia. The injury forced him to miss the remainder of the group stage.
He returned for the knockout rounds and scored against South Korea. In the quarter-final against Croatia, Neymar scored in extra time to give Brazil the lead.
However, Croatia equalised late in the match before winning the penalty shootout. Brazil were eliminated before Neymar had the opportunity to take a penalty.
Neymar’s World Cup Record
| World Cup | Host Nation | Neymar’s Situation | Brazil’s Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | South Africa | Not selected | Quarter-finals |
| 2014 | Brazil | Injured in quarter-final | Fourth place |
| 2018 | Russia | Played until quarter-finals | Quarter-finals |
| 2022 | Qatar | Returned after ankle injury | Quarter-finals |
Focus on 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico. By then, Neymar will be in the later stages of his career and questions over fitness and consistency are expected to continue.
Nevertheless, coach Carlo Ancelotti has maintained confidence in Neymar’s ability to influence major matches. As a result, the 2026 tournament is widely viewed as a potentially decisive chapter in the Brazilian forward’s international career.