Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar Jr. made headlines during the previous FIFA international break when a clip from his upcoming documentary surfaced on social media platforms where the 29-year-old questions his future with the Brazilian national team.
Neymar stated that the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be his last despite having the possibility of playing in one more tournament in 2026. Following PSG’s win over RB Leipzig, captain Marquinhos spoke about Neymar to TNT Sports Brazil, defending his teammate.
“People talk a lot; [Neymar] felt very misunderstood,” Marquinhos said. “He doesn’t know what it will be like after the World Cup; he doesn’t know if he will be able to withstand being at a high level for four more years. He’s just focused on playing this time around, and God willing, he can play next time too. I hope to be with him.”
Furthermore, Marquinhos stated he understands the mental grind Neymar faces dealing with the high intense matches for both PSG and the Brazil national team being one of the marquee players that the media focuses on for criticism.
“We have important matches here (at PSG); we also have the national team. It’s a long way to think about four years from now. We need to work calmly and take things step by step. That’s what he meant,” Marquinhos said.
