Neymar has criticised the connection between the Brazil national team and their fans as he questioned whether the Selecao are as important now.
Brazil became the first South American team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, with Neymar set to participate in Qatar in November.
However, the Paris Saint-Germain forward missed a penalty in a 3-1 defeat to Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
He believes Selecao’s games are not talked about enough. There is no hype around their outings.
Neymar told Ronaldo Nazario on the Fenomenos podcast:
“Today, the national team has distanced itself from the fans, I don’t know why, but I see it through the games.
“There is a little comment, and few people know when we are going to play. And that isn’t good.
“It’s sad. In this generation of mine, when the national team plays, it’s no longer critical.
“When I was a child, the national team match was an event. You put the Brazilian flag in the window.
“There was a barbecue, there was cake, and there was everything at home. So it was quite an event.
“Today, it no longer has that importance, and I don’t know how we got to this stage.
“I hope that everything will come back, that the fans will once again support the Brazilian team.
“That we’ll be together to go in search of the World Cup, which is what everyone wants.”
Neymar has endured a tumultuous relationship with Brazil, revealing last year that he was unsure whether he could manage another World Cup with the national side due to the mental stress it imposes on him.
Brazil remains unbeaten in their 15 CONMEBOL qualifiers for the World Cup, in which they next face Chile on March 24.
So, what’s next for Neymar?
On Saturday, Neymar will probably start for PSG against Saint-Etienne in Ligue-1.
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