FIFA World Cup 2014: Having set off brazil on ride, Neymar eyes the coveted cup

Sao Paulo: He is small of stature and slight of build, but Neymar showed he could carry the hopes of a troubled nation with an electrifying performance in Brazil’s World Cup opener. With pressure piled on his young shoulders, it would have been easy for Neymar to crumble but instead the 22-year-old seized the moment with two goals in the 3-1 win over Croatia.

Helped by a large slice of luck, Neymar’s dragged shot in the first half trundled in off the Croatian post, before he struck an awful penalty that somehow Stipe Pletikosa failed to keep out. Those details, as well as the fact that the penalty was highly debatable, did not trouble the 60,000-plus crowd which exploded in delight as fireworks detonated outside.

“This is a dream come true, much more than I imagined. But more important than anything is that our team won,” Neymar said afterwards. Neymar is Brazil’s undisputed star, adored for repeatedly snubbing European clubs before joining Barcelona and promoted so efficiently the phenomenon is known as “Neymarketing”.

At the age of just 22, his tally of goals for Brazil is an astonishing 33 in 50 games. After the match, wearing a baseball cap, earrings and bright green backpack, he gave thanks for the crowd support which included a spine-tingling pre-game rendition of the national anthem.

“I have to give congratulations for the support, it motivated us a lot. They kept us going the whole time, and we needed it,” he said. And Neymar did his best to quash the impression that he is not out to dominate the tournament. “I’m not focused on being the best in the tournament, the highest goal-scorer... I want to win the championship,” he said.