Neymar dedicates his goal to injured teammate on Brazil return vs South Korea

Brazilian superstar Neymar dashed straight over to injured teammate Alex Telles after he netted his nation's second goal against South Korea in their round-of-16 World Cup clash.

There were fears Neymar himself would be forced to sit out the fixture with the injury he picked up in the Selecao's opening group stage game against Serbia. The Paris Saint-Germain forward had not featured since that clash, but was named in the starting XI for Brazil's first knockout tie of the tournament.

After Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior opened the scoring with a delightfully-taken right-footed curling effort, Brazil were awarded a penalty and Neymar did not disappoint after stepping up. In what could be his last ever World Cup, the 30-year-old calmly strolled up to the ball and caressed it beyond Kim Seung-gyu.

Instead of revelling in the moment himself, Neymar opted to make his way over to crocked colleague Telles, who was watching on from the sidelines. The left-back suffered a knee injury that has ended his hopes of playing further any part in this World Cup.

The Manchester United defender, who is on loan at La Liga outfit Sevilla, issued a lengthy statement confirming the sad news via Instagram.

He wrote: "Paths are not straight, they have bends, not every moment in life is joyful, but the bright side of it (and we absolutely always have the counterpoint to sadness) is that after the cry, it's time to smile. I always had a childhood dream, which was to defend my country in a World Cup. And that dream, you can be sure, did not end here.

"My dream remains inside every teammate who will enter the field in the matches until the end of the World Cup. My dream follows inside every fan who screams for our country in the stands. Because this dream was never just mine, it has always been a dream of all those who love Brazil and live intensely football.

"I follow by heart and fan from now on. In fact, I still feel as I've always felt: a Brazilian who never gave up dreaming. I made a drawing as a kid that showed everything I wanted and actually ever wanted in my life.

"Before the match against Cameroon, I looked at that drawing and asked God to let his will be done. And this is how I'm dealing with every minute since I left the field. Nothing comes without a purpose in our lives. And with the same will of that child who drew his dreams, I will follow my path. Thanks everyone for the love. I will come back even stronger!!!!! THE DREAM CONTINUES."

After Neymar's spot-kick, Brazil netted twice more through to Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta to boast a 4-0 lead at the interval and all but seal their place in the last eight long before the full-time whistle.