Neymar rejoins the Brazil team following his outstanding performance at Santos

After over a year, Brazil’s soccer association said Thursday that Santos striker Neymar has been called up for this month’s World Cup qualifying matches against Argentina and Colombia.

After suffering a knee injury during Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay in October 2023, the 33-year-old has had difficulty recovering and regaining his place in the squad.

Neymar returned to his childhood club, Santos, in January following a dismal stint at Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal. In seven games, he scored three goals and provided three assists, attracting the attention of Brazil coach Dorival Junior.

When reporters asked Dorival how much playing time Neymar would receive during the World Cup qualifying round, he responded, “It’s a situation to be analyzed.” He has already appeared in two games for Santos, playing 90 minutes.

He was substituted in the closing seconds of a few of the games. The spell he will have now and how he will perform here will be determined by his minutes in the games. We’ll examine his progress.”

Overtaking Pele’s record of 77 goals, Neymar has a record 79 goals and 128 caps for his nation.

He helped Brazil come second to Argentina in the 2021 Copa America and was a member of the team that won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Brazil, now ranked fifth in the CONMEBOL standings with 18 points from 12 games, will host Colombia on March 21 and travel to Argentina five days later, when Neymar might face Lionel Messi, a former Barcelona and Paris St. Germain teammate.

The World Cup is immediately accessible to the top six teams.

“We’re going to prepare in the best possible way to face these opponents,” stated Dorival.

“With clubs that are at the top of the tournament, I am confident that these two games will be fantastic. We are of high enough caliber to achieve outstanding outcomes.

“There is a great deal of optimism that a breakthrough will occur, and we are really near to it. We only need to have patience; everything will work itself out.

The Brazilian squad

Goalies: Ederson (Manchester City), Bento (Al-Nassr), and Alisson (Liverpool)

Defenders include Wesley Franca (Flamengo), Vanderson (Monaco), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Danilo (Flamengo), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Marquinhos (PSG), Leo Ortiz (Flamengo), and Murillo (Nottingham Forest).

Midfield players: Joelinton (Newcastle United), Gerson (Flamengo), Andre (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), and Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Estevao (Palmeiras), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Manchester City), and Joao Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion) are forwards.