Brazil has officially recalled forward Neymar for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina later this month, marking his return after being absent from the national team for over a year. The Brazilian Football Confederation announced this decision, highlighting Neymar’s recovery from a knee injury he sustained during a qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.
At 33 years old, Neymar has faced challenges in regaining form after a disappointing tenure with Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. However, since rejoining his boyhood club Santos in January, he has shown promising performances, scoring three goals and providing three assists in just seven appearances. His resurgence has not gone unnoticed by Brazil’s coach, Dorival Junior.
In a press statement, Dorival addressed Neymar’s potential involvement in the qualifiers, indicating that his match fitness will determine the extent of his playing time. “He has played 90 minutes in two matches for Santos, and we will analyze his performance closely before making any decisions about his time on the field,” he remarked.
Neymar’s impressive statistics include 128 caps and a record 79 goals for his country, where he has surpassed the legendary Pele’s mark of 77 goals. His contributions have been vital to Brazil’s success, including being part of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and playing a key role in the team’s journey to the finals of the 2021 Copa America, where they finished as runners-up to Argentina.
Currently, Brazil finds itself fifth in the CONMEBOL standings with 18 points from 12 matches, and the team is set to host Colombia on March 21 before facing Argentina just five days later. A match against Argentina could see Neymar face his former club teammate Lionel Messi, further heightening the stakes.
Coach Dorival expressed optimism regarding the upcoming matches, declaring, “We will prepare meticulously for these opponents and strive for commendable results. I firmly believe we possess enough quality and talent to achieve success.”
In the context of Neymar’s return, it represents not just a personal comeback, but also a chance for Brazil to bolster its squad as they aim for a top-six finish to secure direct qualification for the World Cup. With confidence in the team’s capabilities and Neymar’s leadership, there is a hopeful anticipation surrounding Brazil’s chances in the qualifiers.
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