Playing in four World Cups is for few players. Among Brazilians, they fit in two hands, and there’s still a finger left.
To go to four World Cups, in addition to the defending team qualifying, the athlete has to be outside the curve: he needs to maintain a very high physical and technical level, combining a high dose of motivation, for at least 13 years. It is not a trivial task.
Neymar, 34, when called up by Carlo Ancelotti for the USA, Mexico and Canada Cup, next June and July, will become the ninth Brazilian to participate in a World Cup.
Many people question whether he has the necessary requirements to be on the list or whether he got the spot “by name”, but it is a fact that he will join a restricted club.
This could even be his fifth World Cup, given that, given the promising football he displayed, as a teenager and at the beginning of his professional career at Santos, he would have had a place in the Brazilian team in South Africa, in 2010. Dunga, the coach, didn’t want to, preferring the debatable Júlio Baptista and Nilmar.
It will then be the fourth, and, entering the field – he must enter, even if he starts as a reserve –, he will become, Brazil failing in its mission to win the sixth, the country’s biggest loser in World Cups.
He will be tied with Thiago Silva, still active at 41 years old, who had four opportunities and left each of them empty-handed. But the great defender, captain in three editions (2014, 2018 and 2022), didn’t play a single minute in 2010. He warmed the bench the entire time – the starters were Lúcio and Juan.
Thus, Neymar will have had, individually, a greater presence. Consequently, you will be classified as a major failure.
Goalkeepers Castilho and Leão, full-backs Cafu, Nílton Santos and Djalma Santos, striker Ronaldo Fenômeno and King Pelé are the other Brazilians with four World Cups behind them.
Pelé, who is also considered the best in history, won three (1958, 1962 and 1970); Ronaldo, Cafu (both 1994, as reserves, and 2002), Castilho (1958 and 1962, both in the Gylmar reserve), Nílton Santos (starter in 1958 and 1962) and Djalma Santos (starter in 1962 and in the 1958 final), two; Leão, one (1970, as a reserve).
The odds do not help Neymar achieve his dream of becoming world champion.
In the debut of a bloated World Cup, Brazil is one of 48 teams eager to register their name, whether in an unprecedented way or not, in the FIFA Cup. 2% chance.
Is it possible to improve the scenario by removing countries with remote chances of success? From the. But, even reducing the candidates to a slim list of six, Brazil and the five ahead in the FIFA rankings (France, Spain, Argentina, England and Portugal), Neymar and company are left with 17% odds. Don’t get too excited.
Football is a collective game, the understanding is that a balanced team is necessary, with individualities creating a favorable imbalance in key moments, so that laurels can be reaped.
Neymar will be tested on these two fronts: working as a group most of the time and solving things on his own, with goals and/or decisive passes, when necessary, in a pinch.
That’s what fans – those who support him, not his haters – expect from him.
If it happens, it will be in glorious company with those with four Cups and at least one cup. Otherwise, he will make an inglorious pair with Thiago Silva.
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