A very wide smile, unfailing support from a conquered public, Neymar did not make the trip to Brazil for nothing.
A balm for the heart that comes at a time after a much more complex period in Paris, marked by the elimination against Real Madrid in the Champions League, too average performances and whistles fed by the public of the Parc des Princes during the success against in Bordeaux (3-0).
This short parenthesis with the Seleçao will obviously do him the greatest good!
Especially since if Neymar was given a standing ovation as soon as the teams were announced by the entire Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, he was able to follow up with a great performance.
After a few minutes to get rid of the pressing of a Chile who, unlike Brazil, is still chasing after his qualification, the Ney quickly made his mark, combining in particular with Paqueta and Vinicius Jr.
#Seleção ➕ @NeymarJr ➕ @Maracana = 😍🥰🥳 pic.twitter.com/qcWKePLBpG
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) March 25, 2022
And once the Auriverde machine was launched, La Roja could only see the damage.
It is also from the Parisian that the opening came since following an obvious fault by Mauricio Isla, Neymar converted the penalty from 1-0.
A goal and chances - he is also on the verge of the second goal signed Vinicius Jr just before the break - for an almost perfect evening which allows him in passing, with 71 goals, to come back to only 6 achievements from King Pelé with the Seleçao .
This did not prevent him from sharing the honors by letting Philippe Coutinho take the 3-0 penalty.
Also second scorer in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in the South American zone with eight goals (behind the Bolivian Marcelo Moreno), Neymar could not do better.
Warned following a clash with Paulo Diaz, he will be suspended for the last match, without stake, of the qualifications against Bolivia.
This should obviously not prevent him from fully enjoying these few days with the Seleçao.
Before the big return to Paris and its supporters who are waiting for it.