Sixteen years later, the 34-year-old came off the bench against Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scored a late penalty, but watched Brazil fall 2-1 and crash out of the tournament. As the final whistle blew, Neymar collapsed in tears.

"I tried, I tried. Now it's over. I started here, I finished here," he told TV Globo.

The heartbreaking farewell should not overshadow the brilliance of one of football's most gifted creators. Before becoming a global superstar, Neymar was a street footballer from Mogi das Cruzes whose flair and creativity reflected the spirit of Brazil's traditional Jogo Bonito.

Despite criticism over his reputation and playing style, Neymar carried the immense pressure of being Brazil's leading hope for more than a decade. Unlike previous generations of the Selecao, he often lacked a balanced supporting cast and was repeatedly expected to deliver moments of magic as the team's creative saviour.

His record for Brazil remains extraordinary. Neymar finishes as the country's all-time leading male goalscorer with 80 goals in 129 appearances, surpassing Pele's previous mark of 77. His international career included unforgettable highs, such as leading Brazil to Olympic gold at Rio 2016, scoring a stunning free-kick and the winning penalty against Germany before an emotional celebration in front of a home crowd.

His World Cup story, however, was marked by cruel setbacks. A fractured vertebra ruled him out of the 2014 semi-final defeat, injury disrupted his 2018 campaign, and his brilliant extra-time goal against Croatia in 2022 was followed by elimination in a penalty shootout.

Neymar's club career has also been unfairly judged against the extraordinary standards set by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet his achievements remain remarkable. At Santos, he scored 147 goals and helped deliver their first Copa Libertadores title since 1962. At Barcelona, he formed the legendary MSN partnership, scored 105 goals, won the 2015 treble, and became one of the world's best players. At Paris Saint-Germain, he added 118 goals, five Ligue 1 titles and reached the 2020 Champions League final.

The closing years of his career have been difficult, with injuries limiting his spell at Al-Hilal and leading critics to question his choices. However, his emotional return to Santos offered a romantic reminder of where his journey began and restored focus on the joy he brought to football.

Neymar's career was defined by creativity, courage and moments of pure artistry. In an era increasingly shaped by systems and efficiency, he remained a player who brought imagination and magic to the game. His legacy deserves to be remembered among the icons of 21st-century football.

Dates and times for CAF Champions League semi-finals confirmed