Newcastle’s 25-year-old could now improve on ‘one of the saddest days’ of his career.

The World Cup dream is over for Bruno Guimaraes, and the Newcastle United midfielder wasn’t able to do anything about it.

Brazil was knocked out of the competition on Saturday, losing on penalties to Croatia. It was an agonizing game for the Selecao, with Neymar actually giving them the lead in extra time.

It looked like that wonderous goal would set up a mouthwatering semi-final with Argentina – but Croatia had a response.

They were able to equalize, sending the game to spot kicks. Then it was Croatia who held their nerve, dumping one of the favorites out of the tournament.

There were floods of Brazilian tears, with Bruno left distraught on the substitute bench. That is where he had spent the entire game, with the 25-year-old once again an unused sub.

Bruno’s World Cup ends with just two appearances. They both came off the bench, with the midfielder playing just over an hour during the entire tournament.

He took to Instagram after the loss to Croatia, describing it as ‘one of the saddest days of my career and pondering if he could have done more.

And that parting message might mean we see a whole new Bruno Guimaraes in a Newcastle shirt very soon.

Bruno Guimaraes will bounce back after World Cup exit

Watching Brazil was a strange one for Newcastle fans. While it was exciting watching the likes of Neymar and Vinicius Junior play, it was difficult to comprehend why Bruno wasn’t alongside them.

The Toon midfielder has been exceptional in 2022 and headed to the World Cup in sensational form. Yet he wasn’t considered a starter by Tite, with the likes of Fred playing ahead of him.

That made no sense to Newcastle supporters, and it probably left Bruno puzzled too. He has been playing at an extremely high level, yet he still couldn’t start at the World Cup.

The tournament in Qatar has reportedly been a big part of his motivation this year, but now it is over. So could the 2026 World Cup be his next inspiration?

After the agony of Saturday, Bruno knows he needs to be even better to get into this Brazil team and achieve his World Cup dream. It could inspire him to reach an even higher level, which might not sound possible for the Newcastle fans who have watched him dazzle on Tyneside since his arrival.

While Brazil’s exit left Bruno in bits, it could benefit Eddie Howe’s side. It will motivate the £ 35 million man, and that is a terrifying prospect for the other 19 teams in the Premier League.