Brazil’s players hold a banner dedicated to Brazilian soccer legend Pele at the end of the Qatar World Cup 2022 round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and South Korea at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on December 5, 2022. Photo: AFP

Brazil hit top gear with Neymar back in the lineup to brush aside South Korea 4-1 on Monday and ease into the quarterfinals of the World Cup where they will face Croatia.

Neymar had been sidelined for two matches with a sprained ankle but with the world’s most expensive player restored to their side, Brazil’s yellow shirts poured forward at Stadium 974.

Vinicius Junior opened the scoring inside seven minutes before Neymar added another from the penalty spot to move to 76 goals for his country, leaving him just one away from equaling Pele’s all-time record tally.

The ailing Pele watched from his hospital bed in Sao Paulo where the 82-year-old was admitted on November 29 amid ongoing treatment for colon cancer.

He will have enjoyed Richarlison’s dazzling goal to make it 3-0 before Lucas Paqueta added another before half-time, all celebrated with dance routines as Brazil’s supporters roared their approval.

Paik Seung-ho pulled a goal back for the Koreans when the Brazilians took their foot off the pedal, but their thoughts had already turned to Friday’s quarterfinal clash with 2018 runners-up Croatia.

It was the first time that Brazil had scored four goals in a World Cup knockout game since 1998 and the performance rapped out a warning to their rivals that they have a sixth title in their sights.

“We are dreaming of winning the title, that’s obvious, but we have to go step by step,” Neymar said.

He admitted he had feared at one point that he would not play again in the tournament after injuring his ankle in Brazil’s opening game against Serbia.

“When I got injured I spent a very difficult night. I was thinking of a million different things.”

“I was afraid of not being able to play in this World Cup again but I had the support of all my teammates and my family who gave me strength.”

Brazil’s players paid tribute to legend Pele, who is receiving hospital treatment in Sao Paulo due to his ailing health, after the victory.

Following Monday’s last-16 match at Stadium 974 in Doha, the players unfurled a huge banner to the 82-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

First-half goals from Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta saw2 Brazil put the game to bed long before Paik Seung-ho’s stunning consolation in the second period.

“It’s hard to talk about what Pele is going through right now but I wish him all the best,” said Neymar.

“I hope he will be back in good health as soon as possible and that we could have at least comforted him with the victory,” Neymar told Globo.

Pele’s battle with colon cancer is providing motivation for the players to try to win a record-extending sixth world title – the first three of which Pele was part of.

“He needs a lot of strength from us and this victory is for him, so that he can come out of this situation and that we can be champions for him,” said Vinicius.

Neymar’s return gave Brazil a huge boost and they were on fire right from the first minute.

Richarlison paid tribute to the team’s talisman, saying Neymar’s very presence on the pitch makes the game easier for everyone else.
“I’m very happy about the return of Neymar,” said Richarlison, who now has three goals in the tournament.

“On the pitch he drags away two or three players creating space for the others,” he added.

AFP