Why doesn’t Neymar just give up?

Carrying the weight of a dynasty’s expectations on his back, he has suffered back-to-back-to-back heartbreaks in World Cups, a rite of suffering which began with him literally breaking his back in 2014.

In the 12 years since then, the injuries have continued to mount, and so have the disappointments.

And yet, at 34, the Brazilian is likely to begin his fourth World Cup campaign in the early hours of Thursday, Bangladesh time, when Brazil take on Scotland in their third and final Group C match.

The player who was once expected to become the next big thing in football after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, has become one of the biggest 'what if’ stories in modern football.

It’s not that he has had a terrible career, far from it.

He has won the Champions League with Barcelona, has won Olympic gold and the Confederations Cup with Brazil.

He has netted 79 goals and made 59 assists for Brazil in 128 matches. No one has scored or assisted in more goals for the Selecao, with him overtaking both records from ‘King’ Pele.

Still, Neymar’s story is one of a tragic hero, a protagonist with infinite potential, held back by a fragile body, ill-advised career choices and an unrestrained lifestyle.

At 34, his legacy as football’s tragic hero is almost set in stone, and there is only one way left for him to change his legacy: win the World Cup.

The tragedy of Neymar in World Cups

Neymar’s string of tragedy in World Cups began in 2014.

At just 22 years of age, he was leading Brazil’s World Cup charge on home turf.

The hosts were just minutes away from winning the quarterfinal 2-1 against Colombia when defender Juan Zuniga hit Neymar on his back with a high knee.

He immediately fell to the ground. When teammate Marcelo tried to help him up, he told him, “I can't; I don’t feel anything. I can’t feel my legs.”

Doctors confirmed the worst: Neymar had fractured his lower back and was out of the World Cup.

Neymar watched from home as his side got thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semifinal – a humiliation they haven’t been able to live down.

Four years later, a more mature Neymar led a defensively compact Brazil side into Russia, which had conceded only once in their previous nine games before coming across Belgium’s golden generation in the quarterfinal.

Neymar played every minute of Brazil’s campaign that year, carrying a ruptured ligament in his right ankle, and his lack of sharpness did not go unnoticed.

The Belgian side played their best match of the tournament, while Brazil’s usually solid defence let in an own goal.

The match ended 2-1 against Brazil, and Neymar’s dream of lifting the World Cup again ended in tears.

In 2022, Neymar was already past his prime, carrying a body battered with injuries into Qatar. He suffered ligament damage in his right ankle in Brazil’s very first match against Serbia, which ruled him out from the rest of the group stage.

After a gruelling recovery period, he returned for the knockouts, scoring a penalty in Brazil’s 4-1 routing of South Korea.

In the quarterfinal, he scored one of the best goals of the tournament against a stubborn Croatia in extra time. Neymar unlocked the Croat defence with two quick one-twos, first with Rodrygo and then with Paqueta, dribbled past the goalkeeper and struck the ball home.

But just minutes later, Croatia equalised with their only shot on target of the entire match, with Petkovic’s strike taking a deflection off Marquinhos and entering the net.

Brazil lost on penalties. Neymar was left disconsolate, unable to get up from the ground, drowning in sorrow.

Last chance for redemption

A broken back, an own goal and an unfortunate deflection – fate has played cruel tricks on Neymar in World Cups.

His career, since the heartbreak in Qatar, has taken a turn for the worse with injuries and fitness issues keeping him out of action for long stretches in the past three and a half years.

He has not worn the famous canary yellow jersey since November 18, 2023, has featured in only four of 18 matches in the World Cup qualifiers’ campaign and even missed the 2024 Copa America due to injury.

Still, when the World Cup came knocking, Neymar put his hand up for selection.

There were doubts over whether coach Carlo Ancelotti would pick him, but the Italian coach put his faith in the veteran player and named him in the 23-man squad.

But a day before his call-up, for the umpteenth time in his career, Neymar picked up another injury, this time hurting his right calf muscle while playing for Santos.

He had to sit out Brazil’s first two group phase matches – a tense 1-1 draw against Morocco and a comprehensive 3-0 win over Haiti – to regain full fitness.

Brazil will next take on Scotland – a crucial fixture that could have immense consequence for the rest of their campaign.

Before the match, Ancelotti had hinted that Neymar is fit to play, but didn’t disclose whether he would start the match or not.

So far in the 2026 World Cup, the biggest stars have lived up to their names. If he gets picked against Scotland, it will be Neymar’s turn to thrill his legion of fans, who have stood by him throughout his World Cup heartbreaks, and are hoping to see him dazzle on the pitch for one last time.

In the 12 years since his first World Cup appearance, Neymar has arguably endured more than any footballer on the globe.

But no matter how severe the injury or how big the setback, Neymar has always stood right back up and resumed his pursuit of immortality, for the World Cup.

Neymar will muster all his might for what surely will be his ‘last dance’ for the Selecao. After a decade of heartbreak, the Brazilian prince of football will make his final play to ascend to the throne.