Brazilians heartbroken over Neymar’s World Cup injury

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – From the president down to football legends and fans in canary-yellow jerseys, Brazilians were heartbroken, some in tears, after an injury forced their hero Neymar out of the World Cup.

The country celebrated after Friday’s (July 4) quarter-final victory over Colombia took them closer to their World Cup dream, but the mood turned gloomy after a tearful Neymar was stretchered off and ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

“Your painful expression yesterday on the pitch at the Castelao (stadium) wounded my heart, along with that of all Brazilians,” President Dilma Rousseff wrote in a personal message to the 22-year-old star on Saturday, July 5.

“But what we saw was the extraordinary force of a great warrior who, even injured, will not allow himself to be disheartened,” Rousseff said.

Brazil football legend Pele voiced hope that the team would overcome the loss and win the trophy, just as his teammates had when they lifted the cup in 1962 despite his own tournament-ending injury.

“It hurts our hearts to know that he can no longer defend Brazil in the World Cup,” Pele wrote on Twitter.

Brazil will face Germany in Tuesday’s (July 8) semi-final without their talisman, who broke a vertebrae when Colombian defender Juan Camilo Zuñiga kneed him in the lower back with five minutes left in the game.

The nation’s hopes of a record-extending sixth World Cup, and especially the first at home, had rested on the shoulders of Neymar, whose number 10 jersey is worn by countless people in the streets of Brazil.

He has also become an icon on and off the field, turning into a fashion icon with his blond-dyed fauxhawk and model girlfriend. Like a rock star, he has groupies known as “Neymarzetes.”

Joao Batista Schaffer, a 78-year-old taking a stroll in Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo Park, teared up as he talked about the young player’s injury.

“We love Neymar. This is very tough. I’m very, very sad. I’ve been crying since yesterday,” said the shopkeeper.

“Neymar is not big. Anybody can take him down. It was horrible to see this strong player hit him in the back. It was cowardly,” he said.

Messages of support, and outrage over the foul, lit up social media. Neymar has more than 12 million followers on Twitter.

“We share Neymar’s pain. I felt what he felt. I wanted to cry with him. I’m a wreck,” said Erika Nunes, a 40-year-old nurse, as she returned home from a night shift in Rio.

Ademir Costa Chaga, 53, talked about the injury as he coached a dozen children from a favela during one of the free football classes that he gives on weekends.

“Neymar is not only Brazil’s craque (whizz). He is the world’s craque. He is the best player of the cup,” said Costa Chaga, who played for Rio club Fluminense until losing an eye in a game. “The whole country is sad.”

Ayrton dos Santos, 58, wondered whether Zuniga intentionally injured Neymar after watching the game at the Sao Paulo bar where he works.

“We all suffered when we saw him fall,” he said. “I knew right away that it was serious because he was crying. I think it was a cruel act by the Colombian. Everybody saw that he did it on purpose,” he said.

Zuniga insisted that he had not sought to hurt Neymar, but even Brazil great Ronaldo did not believe him.

“I believe there was an intention to hurt by the player. I believe it was very aggressive and very violent,” Ronaldo said.

Brazilian newspapers urged the Selecao to seize on the injury as an extra motivation to triumph against Germany. “Play For Him,” read Lance, a sports daily.

Brazil striker Fred sent an emotional message to his teammate, calling him “the soul” of the Selecao.

“We have an extra motive to play with heart in this cup,” he said. “Neymar, be sure that our group loves you and will give their all to win the title for you.” – Rappler.com