There is not much doubt that Neymar Jr. will score when he stands in front of a penalty in the last minute.
The penalty itself is almost just a formality. But before execution, he felt drawn into a brain-wracking battle with Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. Neymar remained calm. He executed successfully, stepped towards Nyland and said with a verbal expression understood as: "I am Neymar. Remember that".
Then the camera caught a completely different moment.
Closing a cycle
With teary eyes, he burst into tears. In that moment, the mask disappeared. It was not a goal celebration. It was a relief after years of disappointment, pain and uncertainty.
I tried. Now it's all over. I started here and ended here" - he noted about the moment that closed the poetic cycle since his debut for the Brazilian national team at MetLife Stadium in 2010.
Neymar ended his international career as Brazil's greatest scorer of all time - 80 goals in 129 appearances, along with an Olympic Gold Medal.
He belongs to the long-standing tradition of Brazil represented by Garrincha, Pele, Zico, Romario and Ronaldinho. They all believe that football is for playing with joy. At the time of coming to Barcelona, he was already one of the most famous football players in the world. Playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, he became part of the legendary MSN attack.
Neymar seems to be destined to become a natural successor to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Then the decision to change everything came. In 2017, he left Barcelona to go to Paris Saint-Germain in the most expensive transfer deal in football history. This move was aimed at freeing him from Messi's shadow.
That move was expected to be the beginning of the Neymar era. But in the end, it marked the beginning of the biggest unsolved question of football.
The excellence amidst constant obstacles
Injuries strike at the worst times. Every time he seems ready to dominate Europe, another step back follows. At PSG, the Champions League is still out of reach. Then the tension with Kylian Mbappe only adds to the feeling that the dream has never happened as planned.
The story with Brazil also took place according to a similar scenario. This country placed all hopes on him at the 2014 World Cup at home. He carried it until the injury disaster struck in the quarter-final match against Colombia. A few days later, Brazil lost 1-7 to Germany, a result that will forever haunt the history of this country's football.
There were also glorious moments afterwards. Such as winning the Olympic Gold Medal, becoming Selecao's greatest scorer of all time.
The reunion with Messi at PSG has evoked memories of Barcelona, but there is no miracle at all. A new chapter in Saudi Arabia is promising, but another serious injury once again disrupted his career.
The prince who never ascended the throne
Neymar returns to Santos, where everything started. It's not just simply a transfer but it feels like a journey back to its roots, back to where football used to be simply about joy.
When Carlo Ancelotti called him back to the national team, many people believed that there was still a final chapter waiting to be written. But once again, injury hindered the way.
That's why the tears after the penalty kick into Norway's net are of great significance. It's about everything that happened before.
Neymar Jr. may eventually be remembered as a prince who never became king. Not because he is not good enough.
But because fate has never allowed his story to take place in the way the football world believes it will.
