Neymar intervened to stop a child of Croatia star Ivan Perisic from being halted by security, despite being on the wrong side of Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final shootout defeat.
The PSG forward looked likely to be the man to steer the South Americans into the last-four in Qatar as he edged them ahead with a stunning extra-time goal. Heartbreak was to await Tite’s side though as Bruno Petkovic scored a dramatic equaliser in the closing moments before Croatia then sealed victory with a perfect set of penalties.
Neymar was left in tears as the European side toasted their win but composed himself to stop an intriguing situation unfolding with security. As Croatia celebrated their win, their children were allowed onto the pitch to join in.
One particular youngster - Ivan Perisic's son - elected to snub the celebrations and instead made a beeline for the PSG superstar. Security attempted to intervene and stop anyone getting close to the Brazil squad.
Neymar had seen the exchange unfolding though and took the time to speak to Perisic junior and give him a hug before heading off the pitch - a mark of his character after what would have been a heartbreaking defeat. The tournament in Qatar has been a hugely frustrating one for the former Barcelona star regardless.
He was injured in their opening game against Serbia - an ankle problem keeping him out of their subsequent group clashes with Switzerland and Cameroon. He returned for their last-16 showdown with South Korea, scoring and assisting a goal.
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The 30-year-old’s strike against Croatia was a sumptuous effort and saw him draw level with Pele in the list of Brazil’s all-time top goalscorers. It remains to be seen whether he will get another chance to win a World Cup.
Neymar will be 34 by the next tournament but backtracked on the possibility of hanging up his boots for the Selecao.
Speaking to Red Bull last year, he said: "I said something, but people understood a different thing. I said that, yes, this would be my last World Cup and that I would face it in the best way possible.
"I will give my best to be there at 100% because it's as if I had a game the next day, it's how I go about it. If there's a game tomorrow, that game to me, it's as if it was the last one in my life.
"So, for that World Cup that's coming up, I'm thinking about it as if it was the last one for me because I don't know how tomorrow will be and what can happen.
"When I said that, it was a bit controversial, with people saying I wanted to stop playing football and that I would leave the national team. People understood a completely different thing.
"I wanted to say that I'm seeing it as if it was the last one. Why? Because we don't know how tomorrow will be and what can happen."
