2022 marks the 20 years since the last time the Brazil national team won the FIFA World Cup. The Seleção last won football’s biggest prize in Japan-South Korea in 2002.
The national team is now in a drought, and perhaps it might contribute to why there’s a lack of interest in the matches.
In an interview with the Fenômenos podcast, Neymar spoke about the lack of hype that follows their fixtures, adding that the younger generation has become distant towards the national team.
“Nowadays, the Seleção has become very distant from the fans,” Neymar said. “I don’t know how this happened, but our games today are little talked about. And it’s sad to be living in this generation where the Brazilian national team doesn’t feel important when it plays.”
Brazil has already punched their ticket to Qatar for the World Cup later this year. The South American giant has made easy work of their CONMEBOL rivals, but they understand that to gain the attention of the young generation, they need to win World Cups.
Going two decades without winning the trophy is a long time for a top footballing nation like Brazil. The closest they have been since 2002 was the semifinals in 2014 when they were humiliated by Germany in the infamous 7-1 fixture.