When a cloud began to form in the mixed zone of the Lusail Stadium and pulled a large group of journalists behind it, Friday night had already begun in Qatar. A man entered the mixed zone wearing shorts, newly showered, and heavily scented as he made his way out.

His feet were in white Havaianas, the flip-flops, rather than pricey sneakers, and his legs were covered in black compression stockings that went above his knees. Neymar Junior, 30, is the most well-known member of the Brazilian national team. He was originally purchased by Paris Saint-Germain for 222 million euros, and he is currently the focus of concern for a sizable portion of the Brazilian population.

In a recent 2-0 victory over Serbia, Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur scored twice. The 25-year-old scored a goal that could rank in the top 100 best World Cup goals for decades to come after first getting covered in dust in the penalty area (62′). Richarlison himself chipped the ball so high after a side kick after a cross from teammate striker Vinicius Junior that he was able to scissor it into the net in the air. Richarlison described the goal as “brilliant, acrobatic, maybe one of the finest of my career and of the tournament.”

To get a clear picture, you must wait 24 to 48 hours. As for Neymar, the team doctor for Brazil

But even the grace of his achievement rapidly vanished into the distance. because images of a swollen right ankle were widely distributed. And because Rodrigo Lesmar, the team doctor for Brazil, was called to the press room just before Neymar made an appearance in the mixed zone to comment on his health.

It was a dire scenario, to put it briefly.

However, the injury was still relatively recent: according to Dr. Lesmar, Neymar had sprained his ankle as a result of the trauma brought on by the forceful collision of a Serbian defender’s knee. The ankle of number 10 had swelling and edema; it would take 24 to 48 hours to get a clear picture, and x-rays would be performed if necessary. stated the physician. “Excuse me, doctor,” national coach Tite said at that point.

By the time Rocharlison’s goals were scored, Neymar was already hurt. and joked around while still on the field for eleven minutes with the injury, but ultimately was unable to participate. He remarked in a theatrically serious voice, “That’s something that needs to be taken into account in the overall assessment.” It was more about shielding Neymar in advance from fresh discussions than it was about making the PSG striker a martyr and the winner of the opening World Cup match.

Neymar already has too much hanging over his head, what with him joining the Brazilian Bütt during the election of outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro. Half of Brazil’s population is outright opposed to Bolsonaro, and among this group, there are many people for whom the idea of winning the championship with Neymar is virtually intolerable. Because it is assumed that the football player would give Bolsonaro his Seleço shirt and dedicate such a victory to him.

Neymar, like the majority of Brazilian national team players, is a Bolsonaro supporter. Bolsonaro narrowly lost the election, and his followers are even more abrasive and unjust than the Serbs who disrupted the transfer of the presidential sash at the Lusail Stadium. because they assert a kind of fascist-like power throughout the nation. Additionally, they were unable to deal with the reality that Lula Inacio da Silva was able to secure Brazil’s 50 plus 1 vote in his favor.

However, Neymar and the World Cup continue to have a negative relationship, as has happened in the past. In 2010, the then-starlet was not called by national coach Carlos Dunga. Juan Camilo Ziga, a Colombian, kneed him in the back in 2014. Due to a spinal fracture that nearly caused him to become paralyzed, Neymar was unable to play in the 7-1 draw with Germany in the semifinals. He battled the effects of a metatarsal fracture in 2018. The ankle is now hurting. In particular, Richarlison’s second goal stole the show.

The London striker claimed after the game, “I stated at halftime: I only need one ball and the ball came: I was focused – and I finished brilliantly. Richarlison, though, had sympathy for Neymar as well: “I hope he recovers quickly so that we can have him at 100 percent again for the next game.” You can be confident that Neymar will play in this World Cup, according to Tite.

However, Neymar has already suffered from a similar injury, in the 2013–14 campaign. At that moment, he was had to miss 32 days of FC Barcelona, his old team. However, Neymar himself stated on a social network on Friday night that there can only be a maximum of “six games” missed in the World Cup. He expressed optimism about winning the tournament. Moreover, without mentioning the injury.

“The best team in this World Cup is Brazil. There is no question in my mind “stated Stojkovic, the Serbian coach

Coach Tite would be without the Brazilian franchise player should he truly withdraw. But there are plenty of other options. The Seleço played nearly better without Neymar than with him against the incredibly bulky but well-prepared Serbs, who caused Brazil problems in the first half with a convincing defensive performance.

In any case, the performance, which was frequently truffled with lovely individual actions, was worthy of a World Cup favorite, and it provided solid justification for Brazil’s victory. “The best team at this World Cup is Brazil. There’s no denying that, “Dragan Stojkovic, the Serbian coach, made the statement following Serbia’s 2-0 loss to Brazil, which has been vying for its sixth championship since winning it in 2002. Whether Neymar is present or absent is the key.