Pope Francis, who is Argentinean, consoles Brazil football fans after the team’s World Cup exit. He tries to cheer them up in Saint Peter's Square during his traditional Sunday blessing at the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

What a match it was Friday midnight! A cracker of a contest that was fought hard till the end.

Belgium ended Brazil's dream of a sixth World Cup title when they beat the South Americans 2-1 in a dramatic, enthralling end-to-end quarter-final on Friday to earn a semi-final tie against France.

While some of their biggest rivals already fall by the wayside in Russia, Brazil make serene progress towards the latter stages of the World Cup.

Brazil firmed up to 3-1 favourites to win the World Cup for the sixth time after goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino secured a 2-0 win over Mexico and a place in the quarter-finals on Monday.

Neymar and Firmino are on target as Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 in their World Cup last 16 clash to earn a quarter-final against either Belgium or Japan.

Brazil brought in Filipe Luis at left back for their World Cup last 16 encounter with Mexico with regular starter Marcelo failing to fully recover from a back injury.

They were one of the three suspect heavyweights going into the final matchday of the group stages, but five-time champions Brazil moved to the round of 16 with flying colours, defeating Serbia 2-0 at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow yesterday.

Whew! What a relief Friday night offered to fans of two Latin American football powerhouses -- Brazil and Argentina -- in Bangladesh and beyond.

Brazil's squad arrive in Russia with their star Neymar seemingly recovered from a broken foot bone as they begin their quest to win a sixth World Cup.

Neymar scored on his return to action after three months out through injury as Brazil warmed up for the World Cup with a 2-0 friendly win over Croatia at Anfield

"It's going to take a bit more time for this fear to go away, but I'm ready to play. Nothing can stop me from doing so," Neymar said.

Former Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho, who won the World Cup, Champions League, Copa Libertadores and World Player of the Year award, is retiring from the game, his brother and agent Assis says.

A rejuvenated Brazil looking to heal the wounds of home soil humiliation four years ago will lead the South American charge for the World Cup in 2018, but a slew of European powerhouses stand in the way of redemption in Russia.

When Japarupi Waiapi looks into the dense foliage of the Amazon rainforest, he sees the equivalent of a supermarket, pharmacy, furniture store -- and that's just the beginning.

Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is delighted to see his friend and former teammate Lionel Messi make it to the World Cup.

Former Brazil star Roberto Carlos is set to be sent to prison for theree months due to delaying the payment of alimony for his two children, Madrid based Marca reports.

Brazilian hero Ronaldinho, will play two exhibition matches in Pakistan this weekend in hopes of attracting more players from the cricket-mad country, media reports say.

Brazil coach Tite on Friday recalled Chelsea defender David Luiz to his squad for two upcoming friendlies despite his team having secured nine wins in nine games without him.

Neymar and several other top Brazilian players have been left out of the national squad for friendlies next month against Argentina and Australia, coach Tite said yesterday, giving them a long summer break for the first time since 2013.