After cruising to a 4-1 World Cup victory over South Korea, Pele is currently being treated in a hospital in Sao Paulo for his failing health.
The players presented an enormous banner to the 82-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, following Monday’s last-16 match at Stadium 974 in Doha. to play the majority of the game. Brazil put the game to bed in the first half with goals from Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison, and Lucas Paqueta.
The players are motivated by Pele’s battle with colon cancer to try to win a record-extending sixth world title, the first three of which Pele was a part.
Neymar’s return—”I was afraid”—provided Brazil with a significant boost, and they were on fire from the opening kickoff.
Neymar’s penalty-kick goal in the 13th minute brought Brazil’s Neymar within one goal of Pele’s record 77 goals.
However, he acknowledged that he had briefly considered ending his World Cup when he was injured in Brazil’s first match against Serbia.
“I had a very difficult night when I got hurt. Neymar acknowledged that he had been “crying a lot” and that he had been “thinking of a million different things.”
“I had the support of all my teammates and my family, who gave me strength,” he said.
Richarlison paid tribute to the team’s savior, stating that Neymar’s presence on the field facilitates the game for everyone else.
Richarlison, who has now scored three goals in the tournament, said, “On the pitch, he drags away two or three players, creating space for the others.”
Cesar Sampaio, the assistant coach, added, “Neymar provides a competitive advantage, he makes the difference on the pitch — he’s the driving force.”
Richarlison also praised coach Tite’s decision to rest nearly the entire first team in their final group stage match, a 1-0 loss to Cameroon, which ended their chances of making it to the knockout rounds.
Richarlison stated, “You have to give credit to the boss.” “We played with intensity from the first minute, and that was because we rested a part of the team in the previous match.”
Due to Tite’s numerous substitutions, all 26 players have participated in the tournament, including third-choice goalkeeper Weverton, who played the final ten minutes against Korea.
He observed, “The game was almost over when I came on, but no goalkeeper likes to concede a goal.”