Neymar has not played for Brazil for over a year due to an injury. (AP)
Former Brazil football team captain Neymar is back in the Selecao squad after a hiatus of almost 1 1/2 years. With the World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina slated later this month, the one-time Brazil talisman found himself named in the national squad by coach Dorival Junior on Thursday.
The 33-year-old striker has been sidelined with an injury that also scuttled his stint in the Saudi Pro League with
Al-Hilal. Earlier this year, Neymar returned to Brazil to play for his boyhood club Santos after Al-Hilal agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
Neymar had joined the Saudi Arabia club amid much pomp from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023. Back then, the Saudi Pro League team had shelled out a whopping 90 million euros ($94 million) to bring the Brazil striker to its team. But he picked up an ACL injury in October 2023 while playing for Brazil football team months after joining Al-Hilal. Subsequently, he played only seven matches for the club, with only one goal and two assists.
Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying and will host Colombia on March 20 and travel to leaders Argentina five days later at Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires.
“He played two matches at Santos for 90 minutes. He has also been spared in the last minutes of some matches,” Júnior said. “Let’s see how he performs in the run up to our matches.”
Brazil squad for World Cup qualifiers vs Colombia and Argentina
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).
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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).
