Neymar-World Cup in 2022 'will be my last'.

Brazil star Neymar said on Sunday that the 2022 World Cup will be his last as he "doesn't have the strength to put up with more football". "I think it will be my last World Cup," the 29-year-old told DAZN. "I will play it like it is the last because I don't know if I will still have the mental strength to put up with even more football." Neymar, who has played in two World Cups and is his country's second top scorer of all time behind Pele, will be 34 when the 2026 tournament rolls around. "I will do everything to get to the 2022 World Cup in great shape and will do everything to win for my country, to fulfill my biggest dream since I was little," added the Paris Saint-Germain star. Neymar played in the 2014 World Cup on home soil and scored four goals. However, he was to suffer a back injury before Brazil were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals. Four years later, in Russia, Brazil were knocked out by Belgium in the quarterfinals. So far, his international honours have been limited to the 2013 Confederations Cup and an Olympic gold medal in Rio in 2016. Injury ruled him out of the 2019 Copa America which Brazil won as well as the 2021 edition where Argentina triumphed in the final. Brazil are comfortably placed to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar having won all nine of their qualifiers in the South American region so far.

Benzema sets sights on World Cup after leading France to Nations League triumph

Karim Benzema waited more than five years to make his France comeback and now the Real Madrid striker is in a hurry to win his first major trophy with Les Bleus. Benzema helped France clinch the Nations League with goals in both the semifinal and in Sunday's final, but unlike his striking partners Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe, he was not in the squad that won the 2018 World Cup. Playing his second competition after more than five years out of the team following a blackmail scandal, over which he faces trial later this month, the 33-year-old showed he was in the form of his life. "We are going to enjoy this trophy and then go get the World Cup (next year)," Benzema said following France's 2-1 victory over Spain at the San Siro after he netted the equaliser with a superb curling effort. While France came under pressure against a possession-obsessed Spain team, they did not panic and Benzema and Mbappe's clinical finishing made the difference. Coach Didier Deschamps said that Benzema's contribution to the team extended beyond his goals. "Karim is an essential player, he's proved it over the last two games," said Deschamps. "He's in line with what he's been doing with his club. He's extremely fit, way more than he was before, and he's more mature. He's got this rage to win that he communicates to the other players." Deschamps is clearly counting on Benzema to lead France's attack at the World Cup finals in Qatar next year. "He is an important player for the future. Beyond his obvious talent, he has the character and the mental strength that are key at the highest level," he said after Les Bleus avoided defeat for the seventh time this year having conceded the opening goal. "I'm very proud of my work for a long time. Coming back to this team and winning makes me happy, yes," said Benzema, who has now scored six goals for France since his return, with only Antoine Griezmann matching that tally. "This title gives me even more ambition for the future with this team. Because this team has great potential." France need one victory against either Kazakhstan at home or away to Finland next month to qualify for the World Cup finals.