Neymar may be about to kick away his own chance. His final bid to return to the World Cup is being shaken by a single criticism of a referee.
Santos beat HEMO 2-0 in the Brazilian Serie A ninth round on the 3rd (KST). On paper it was a perfect victory, but a bigger fallout occurred after the match.
At the center of the controversy was Neymar's interview. After the match he expressed strong dissatisfaction with the referee's decisions. Neymar publicly began criticizing, saying, "It's really the same every time. It's unfair."
He went on to say, "I suffered an unnecessary foul from behind late in the game. It wasn't the first time. It was the third or fourth such foul. So I went to complain to the referee. I said to the referee, 'Are you crazy?'" which amplified the uproar.
The criticism did not stop there. Neymar said, "That referee has always been like that. It was the same today. I couldn't even talk to the referee. He just turned his back and ignored me," and criticized strongly, "He is the type who likes to make the game his own. He lacks respect for players. He did that not only to me but to opposing players as well. He refuses to have any conversation. This must be improved. Players can complain and ask questions. That's football. Referees should know how to handle that, and this approach is very unpleasant and rude."
The problem is that these remarks may not end as mere expressions of dissatisfaction. In Brazilian football, strict disciplinary standards are applied to public criticism of referees. In past similar cases, suspensions of up to 12 matches have been imposed.
If the same level of discipline is applied, the situation becomes serious. Neymar's World Cup bid could effectively be halted.
The national team situation is also not easy. Carlo Ancelotti left Neymar off the A match roster in March. In such a fiercely competitive environment, Neymar was in a position where he had to earn another chance through his club performances.
His actual performance was showing signs of recovery. After the start of the 2026 season he recorded three goals and two assists in four matches, steadily accumulating attacking points, and he added an assist in this match as well. He now faces a variable at a time when he needs to maintain the momentum.
In the end, the likelihood that an emotional reaction will trip him up has grown. At a time when he needs to prove himself through performance, if the risk of a suspension materializes, his return to the national team will only become more distant.
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