World Cup could mean redemption for Brazil forward Neymar

DOHA: When Neymar was preparing to play for Brazil at his first World Cup back in 2014, the hype surrounding him was considerable.

He had just moved from Santos to Spanish club Barcelona as one of the most promising young players in the world. And he had impressed early on with the Catalan club, quickly gaining the status of star in the world of soccer.

The common questions surrounding Neymar at the time were about when — not if — he would be crowned the best in the world.

Fast forward eight years, though, and things have changed considerably. The Brazilian remains one of the top players in the world, but he has failed to fully meet the expectations that came along his high-profile move to Europe.

Neymar lost visibility after joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, and it’s been a while since he has been in consideration for the best player of the year awards.

His performances with Brazil in World Cups have mostly disappointed since the 2014 tournament at home, when he was carried off on a stretcher because of a back injury in the quarterfinals. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Neymar crouched on the field and stared in disbelief as the Belgium players celebrated their victory over Brazil in the last eight.

He was crucial for Brazil when the country won its first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, a feat that was celebrated widely nationwide and earned him widespread praise.

But at 30 years old, the questions surrounding Neymar ahead of the World Cup in Qatar are a bit different.

Did he make a mistake by leaving Barcelona to join PSG? Is he being overshadowed by Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe? Is he past his peak?

But for Neymar, the only question that really matters is whether he can come