September 28, (THEWILL) – Brazil head coach, Dorival Junior, has called for patience regarding Neymar’s return to the national team following a severe knee injury. The 32-year-old star forward suffered a meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
Neymar, who holds Brazil’s all-time scoring record with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has been absent from recent squad selections, including the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru. Dorival emphasised the importance of Neymar’s full recovery, stating: “We will wait, we will be patient, it does not matter if he cannot come back in October, November or even February.”
While Neymar continues his rehabilitation, Dorival has recalled Barcelona winger Raphinha and Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli for the September fixtures. The attacking lineup also includes Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Endrick, as Brazil looks to improve their qualifying campaign.
Brazil currently sits fifth in the South American qualifying table with 10 points from eight matches. The team has struggled recently, losing four of their last five games, and now finds themselves just one point above Paraguay, who occupy the intercontinental play-off spot.
Dorival remains optimistic about Neymar’s future impact on the national team, saying: “If he returns in the coming years, we will have one of the greatest players in world football at a remarkable moment in his career and in our national team.” The coach’s comments underline the significance of Neymar’s role in Brazil’s footballing ambitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
