Destiny’s least favourite child, Neymar bows out without a FIFA World Cup
The bards and poets must have been smiling. It was the ending they would have written themselves: a final act composed to perfection. Strip away context for a moment, and reflect on the final telling act of Brazil versus Norway. A penalty. Walking up was Neymar. Brazil’s highest scorer, with more goals than Pele and more than Rivaldo and Ronaldinho combined. A goal would make him only the second Brazilian to score at four World Cups. And against him, Ørjan Nyland. Impregnable. He had denied Bruno Guimaraes from the spot, and then the undeniable Vinicius Junior. Every Brazilian attack disappeared. Then came Neymar. Ostentatious gait. Snobbish smile. The air of a man untouched by consequence. “Onde você quer?” he asked. (‘Where do you want it?’ ) “Tenta na trave,” said Nyland. ‘Hit the woodwork.’ Neymar didn’t. Back of the net. The sequence had reached its conclusion. Or, did it? Neymar walked up to the goalkeeper and whispered: “Comigo não, otário.” ‘Not with me, **ucker.’ Reality soon intruded. It was effectively the final kick of a …
