Neymar seeks glory and forgets the past in the World Cup in Qatar
The World Cup in Qatar may be the last for Brazilian soccer star Neymar, who turns 31 in February.
Neymar's career varied between high expectations and a reality that did not live up to these aspirations.
Despite being the most expensive player in history, he did not use his full potential at club level or with his country.
He has often received criticism for being selfish and immature, making headlines with his actions both on and off the field due to his lifestyle and legal problems.
But he seemed to have taken a different course this season, as he is paying more attention to his mental and physical preparation ahead of the World Cup.
He decided to end his vacation a week early to start training with Paris Saint-Germain, and he has performed superbly this season, as he has more than scored and assisted goals in the five major leagues in Europe.
Some believe that the stories that he was champion in the World Cup in the last 12 years are a reflection of his career, as it is a long story of hope, frustration, controversy, pain and poor performance.
In South Africa 2010, coach Dunga dropped him from the final squad, not believing that the then 18-year-old striker who caught the eye with Santos was ready for the big stage.
Four years later, he became a star of the highest caliber, playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in Barcelona, and captaining the World Cup host country.
But he suffered a back injury in Brazil's quarter-final win over Colombia and watched from his hospital bed his team's humiliating 7-1 loss in the semi-finals at the hands of Germany.
In Russia 2018, injuries again prevented his dream of winning the World Cup. At the beginning of the year, he suffered a right ankle sprain that affected his right foot.
He was not fully fit for the tournament, in pain and far from his best when Belgium knocked Brazil out of the quarter-finals.
The common factor in his participation in the World Cup finals is that he is the only player who can make a difference in the Brazilian national team.
Neymar had to bear the burden of being the brightest star of his generation throughout his career, and this was until recently before the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Rafinha, Bruno Guimaraes and others rose to prominence last season.
For the first time, Neymar will have the support of a star-studded team, as was the case with Brazil in the past.
This would be the perfect opportunity to achieve glory and redeem himself by helping Brazil win the World Cup for the first time in two decades.
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