83 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Neymar
Croatia v Brazil
Qatar 2022 | Quarter-finals
Education City Stadium, Doha
The danger detector was at zero when the Brazilian received the ball in midfielder, back to goal, 11 Croatians behind him, congesting their final third like Dubrovnik’s Mount Srd during sunset.
This was not, however, any old Brazilian. It was one described by Gigi Buffon as “the most imaginative player I have ever seen.”
Neymar spun and executed a slick one-two with Rodrygo to escape Luka Modric and Marcelo Brozovic. He then faked a shot, hypnotising Josko Gvardiol, and slipped a disguised pass into Lucas Paqueta, who played a first-time return. Neymar slithered between Dejan Lovren and Borna Sosa to collect it, held off the latter, dummied goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to his knees, and lifted the ball over the sliding defender and into the net.
Croatia ultimately rallied to kill Brazil on penalties, but Neymar’s masterpiece will live on eternally.
