Neymar’s second World Cup was supposed to be his second coming – instead it was all over in a flash and the world’s most expensive player left with his tail between his legs.

Let the debate end. He is not, and never will be, a world-class player. Or will he…?.

At his home tournament four years ago, Brazil supporters were left devastated when their idol broke bones in his back and missed the 7-1 semi-final humiliation to Germany when he was on the verge of winning the Golden Boot.

READ MORE: Name the England stars from their childhood photos

READ MORE: Neymar missing as fans welcome back Brazil flops to Rio

READ MORE: Harry Maguire: England’s humble hero on track for big-money move

Now those same fans, who turned out in their hundreds to welcome back their heroes to Rio following Brazil’s quarter-final defeat to Belgium, were even denied a view of the £198m PSG striker as he somehow managed to avoid going through the same exit door as the rest of his team.

Neymar’s displays at Russia 2018 mirrored those of his team: Brilliant at times, ordinary at others but mostly doing just enough to get through until De Bruyne, Lukaku et al did more than enough and Europe ended the South American dream. Again.

But for millions of football followers the abiding memory of Neymar at the World Cup is one of a petulant child, screaming in agony at every brush from an opponent, rolling over and over to magnify the largesse of each challenge and diving at every opportunity in a bid to win penalties.

READ MORE: Wimbledon insists men’s final will not move, even if England reach World Cup final

More than 14 minutes spent on the ground during five matches merely cemented his reputation for play acting.

He drew criticism from players, pundits and managers alike and even with 57 goals in a Brazil shirt to his name, he is regarded as just another big-earning big name who turned out to be a big disappointment.

Yet his World Cup preparation was hampered hugely by a broken metatarsal earlier this year that meant he only returned to full fitness a couple of weeks before the tournament began.

He looked off the pace as a result, waiting for something to happen rather than making it happen – crushed by the weight of expectation as he struggled for sharpness and match fitness.

Frustration kicked in as he knew he was not at his best.

READ MORE: Gossip – PSG offer £239m for Coutinho to keep Neymar and more

The wannabe Ballon d’Or winner left Barcelona to escape the shadow of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez – and to some extent Cristiano Ronaldo – for the easy life of PSG in Ligue 1.

Yet if you are rated as world class on honours won at international level (excluding Olympic Games of course), then Neymar’s cupboard is bare.

Doubters claim that even Messi, runner-up in one World Cup and three Copa Americas and 65 goals in 128 Argentina appearances is world class. But he is.

The difference is that he seems to carry a talented bunch of players who make up a dysfunctional XI.

Neymar is one of many hugely-talented players in a sublime team that is crying out for a talisman, not a crying out talisman.

Ronaldo can point to his Euro 2016 winners’ medal, inspiring an ordinary team to achieve the extraordinary.

Credentials

He truly leads from the front and has led Real Madrid to three successive Champions League titles. Nobody doubts his world-class credentials.

Even the much-vilified Suarez has shown his true qualities (at times), leading international minnows Uruguay far and beyond where they should be.

Not all World Cup winners are world class (Stephane Guivarc’h springs to mind) in the same way not all players have to win a World Cup to be classified as world class. Three are already mentioned but also look at Luka Modric and David Beckham.

Neymar’s time has not been and gone though. He will be 30 by Qatar 2022, perhaps past his very best but by then possibly a regular fixture in the Real Madrid team and brimming with confidence.

If he can steer clear of injuries and hit the next World Cup at full pace, he and rest of the wounded Brazil squad will be desperate to end 20 years of hurt.

Reports of Neymar’s demise are premature – he still has the world at his feet and all he needs now is the ball there to prove once and for all he REALLY is worthy to be remembered with the same reverence as los Celecao legends Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka.