Brazil star Neymar has made a shock admission that next year's World Cup in Qatar will likely be the last of his career on the global stage.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger will be 30 years old when the tournament rolls around, after breaking into the international team at the age of 18.
Speaking to Dazn, he said: "I see it as my last because I don't know if I have the strength of mind to deal with football anymore. I'll do everything to turn up well, do everything to win with my country, to realise my greatest dream since I was little. And I hope I can do it."
The 29-year-old lashed out at Brazilian fans last month, demanding more respect after a tough period with the national side, as they were on the losing side of the Copa America final against Argentina in the summer.
He has featured in two World Cups to date, missing the 7-1 thrashing to Germany in 2014 through a back injury picked up in the quarter-final, before they were dumped out by Belgium in the 2018 competition in Russia, while he also missed out on the triumphant 2019 Copa America campaign with an ankle issue.
Nonetheless, the PSG star stands as his nation's second all-time top scorer, with his 69 Brazil goals only topped by Pele, who leads the way with 77.
Sam Varley
