One of Brazil's stars at the 2022 FIFA World Cup has admitted that being eliminated from the tournament hurt more than "losing a family member".
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Going into the global showpiece, the Selecao were heavily touted as favourites to win the World Cup but were knocked out by Croatia in a penalty shootout at the quarter-final stage.
Richarlison, who finished as the top goalscorer for the record competition winners in Qatar with three goals, has now admitted that he is still devastated by that result.
"It was a blow, I don't know. I think it's worse than losing a family member," the Tottenham Hotspur forward told ESPN.
"It was difficult to recover. To this day, when I watch videos on my social networks, it makes me sad.
"But we have to move on. I'm still young, I think I still have one or two Cups to go. I will keep working hard so that things start to flow again, the goals start to come out, which is what I know how to do on the field."
In Brazil's opening encounter at the tournament against Serbia, the 25-year-old scored with a spectacular strike that would later be named the goal of the tournament, and while he was pleased to receive the honour, he insisted the goal, which has since been nominated for the 2022 Puskas Award, was in vain.
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"Our goal was to be champion. I scored a beautiful goal, but I think that goal, let's say, was not my goal," Richarlison added.
"We went there to raise the cup. But I'm also happy to have scored that great goal, even running for the Puskas.
"I was happy, because I think a lot of people started to know me more. It was very important in my career."
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