Neymar emphatically stepped up to Ronaldo 's challenge as Brazil sliced through South Korea to reach the World Cup quarter-finals - and even matched his record.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward returned for his nation in Qatar having missed the previous two matches against Switzerland and Cameroon with a painful-looking ankle injury. There was initial doubt over whether the 30-year-old would be fit enough to play any part for Tite's troops as they continue their hunt for a sixth title. But those concerns quickly evaporated when Neymar's name was on the line-up.
Ahead of the showdown with South Korea, Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazario had addressed Neymar's fitness worries in an open letter and suggested that he would "bounce back" and "come back stronger". The letter, in which the former forward penned after he confirmed he would pass up his salary as president of Spanish club Real Valladolid due to the club’s financial losses, read: “I am sure that most Brazilians, like me, admire and love you [Neymar].
"Your talent, by the way, has taken you so far, so high, that there is love and admiration for you in every corner of the world. And it is also for this reason, for having reached where you have, for the success you have achieved, that you have to deal with so much envy and evil.
He continued: “It is against this verbal violence with destructive power that I write to you today: come back stronger! Smarter! Hungry for goals! The good you do on and off the field is much greater than envy towards you. Don't forget for a second the journey that made you a world football idol. Brazil loves you! The real fans - the ones who are in favour - need your goals, dribbles, boldness and joy!
“Celebrate the love that comes from most of your country. You will bounce back Neymar! And may all the hate turn into fuel. To everyone who has read this far, I ask that you send positive energy to the national team, to Neymar, to Danilo and all the players.”
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Neymar certainly responded to Ronaldo's call and more with a performance of sheer excellence and skill. Intriguingly, Neymar did not play a role in Brazil's opener with Raphinha jinking past his marker before crossing the ball to Vinicius Jr at the back-post. The Real Madrid star composed himself to curl home a brilliant strike into the far corner.
But after Richarlison was fouled in the box, there was only one man who was going to step up. After a stuttering run up, PSG superstar Neymar cheekily just rolled the ball home with the utmost composure that only a Brazilian is capable of under these particular circumstances.
Neymar's solitary strike means he has become the third Brazilian to score at three World Cups, alongside Pele and Ronaldo himself. The penalty also means he is only one goal behind the great Pele in the Selecao's all-time top scorer records
Two very quickly became three as Richarlison rounded off a stunning team goal, whilst Lucas Paqueta notched the fourth before the break.
In the end, South Korea had to resort to fouling Neymar in an effort to pocket him. Their attempts failed to bear fruit though as Neymar and his teammates toasted their scintillating Samba scything against South Korea as he responded to Ronaldo in the perfect fashion before being replaced late on by Rodrygo.
It is now down to the former Brazilian international to step up to his own promise of foregoing his wages in order to help Valladolid as attention switches to club action yet again before the quarter-finals get underway.
