Neymar has admitted for the first time that he wondered if he was a diver after sustained criticism over his theatrics during the World Cup.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward entered the tournament as one of the tournament's great hopes and played well in the group stage at times, but he made just as many headlines for theatrical diving and rolling on the turf as he did for his fancy footwork and positive contributions.
Now, in an interview with Globo in his native Brazil, Neymar has revealed how the fierce criticism of his actions made him question himself.
"I started to see all of my pieces of play in the World Cup and I thought 'could it be that I really am diving?'," he admitted.
"I think there was an exaggerated blame placed on me," he said.
"But I knew to expect that, as it's always been like this over the course of my career, no?
"I know that when Brazil loses, most of the weight will fall on my back."
Neymar was indeed questioned after Brazil's World Cup elimination by Belgium, with one journalist in Sao Paulo newspaper Folha writing: "You need to dribble, but Brazilian players make the error of thinking it's the best plan even when faced with two or three markers. That's what led to Neymar diving near Toby Alderweireld, asking for a non-existent penalty."
The former Barcelona forward was far from the only man scapegoated in the wake of the Canarinha's defeat to the Belgians in Kazan.
"Fernandinho was another who was blamed in a way that I can't understand," added Neymar.
The Manchester City midfielder was given a rating of just 2.5 out of 10 in one Brazilian newspaper as they crashed out of Russia 2018.
