March 7 – Brazil manager Dorival Junior has recalled former captain Neymar to the national team for World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina this month after an absence of more than a year.
The Brazilians have been without Neymar since October 2023, when he tore an ACL and meniscus in his left knee while on international duty, but Junior included the 33-year-old in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina this month.
“There’s no need to talk about what Neymar represents,” said Junior. “He is currently recovering his form, we understand and are aware of this. But we believe his abilities and qualities allow him to be in a condition to overcome any situation on the field. He is a player whose [Brazil] teammates themselves publicly expressed what he represents to the group.”
“We were waiting for him to return, this is the first opportunity that we could have him [since recovering from injury]. I hope he is very happy when he returns. Let’s give him the confidence to develop to the best of his ability, let’s not create high expectations, let’s not place all the responsibility on his return.”
Neymar recently returned to his boyhood club Santos from Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia where he spent most of his time sidelined with injuries. Neymar is Brazil’s record goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances and he wants to play in a fourth World Cup next year.
Brazil are lying in fifth in South American qualifying. The five-time world champions have never missed out on participation in the World Cup, but they have struggled to build a new team after the disappointment of another quarter-final exit at the last finals in Qatar. Dorival Junior’s squad included seven Brazil-based players: Guilherme Arana of Atletico Mineiro; Danilo, Léo Ortiz, Gerson and Wesley of Flamengo, Estêvão of Palmeiras and Neymar. It is a first call-up for Wesley.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City).
Defenders: Vanderson (Monaco), Wesley, Leo Ortiz, Danilo (all Flamengo), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Murillo (Nottingham Forest), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro).
Midfielders: André (Wolverhampton), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), Joelinton (Newcastle), Neymar (Santos).
Forwards: Estêvão (Palmeiras), João Pedro (Brighton), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo, Vinicius Júnior (all Real Madrid), Savinho (Manchester City), Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton).
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