Neymar and Cristiano left the pitch empty-handed for the final time. They cried, stayed silent, and made their final walk into a past that is never coming back. Yet, the audience cheered for them one last time during their final national duty.

What they achieved and what they left behind is a massive topic for discussion. Who is the best in the world remains a hotly debated topic in football. These are the memories to share with future generations. Fans have endured countless sleepless nights just to watch Neymar’s footwork, while the sheer dedication football witnessed from Ronaldo is unforgettable.

Are Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior and Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro merely footballers? Or do they simply play football? They taught the world how to become more than just footballers. They showed us how to become icons, how to become legends, and how to become the ultimate poster boys for the children of their nations.

From Santos to the top tier of Barcelona or PSG, and from Sporting CP to Manchester United or Real Madrid, how they carved out their own paths to reach the absolute pinnacle is a story to tell our children.

As a football fan, I must say they are on a level beyond judgment. You may disagree, but I will not pay it any mind. How they performed and how they finished in this 2026 FIFA World Cup does not reflect the entirety of their magnificent careers.

We shouldn’t be emotional when we are judging team performance. We must be realistic and think of Brazil’s match against Norway. With respect, I can say that if it was not for that specific day, Brazil could have beaten Norway.

But that day was simply not for Brazil. They were struggling from the very beginning of the tournament, and this outcome was bound to happen. I was not surprised to witness the destiny of Brazil in this World Cup.

It was more or less the same for Portugal. They arrived as one of the contenders to win the World Cup. But reality hit them after the first match. Until their last Round of 16 match against Spain, they continued the run exactly how they started.

Do Neymar and Ronaldo deserve a farewell like this? Would it be possible if reality were fair? What if they had a tough match and they lost simply because it was not their day? The way they left was not acceptable, and they are definitely bigger than what you (or your hatred) allow yourself to think.