Neymar Returns to Brazil National Team After 17-Month Injury Absence

Brazilian football star Neymar has been nominated to the national team after a hiatus of approximately 17 months due to injury. Coach Dorival Júnior has called up the 33-year-old for two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Colombia and Argentina this month.

“No one needs to discuss what Neymar represents,” Dorival said at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. “I hope that he will be very happy upon his return and that we can provide him the security to give his best at this moment.”

Neymar’s last appearance for the Seleção was in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay, where he suffered a serious knee injury, a torn cruciate ligament. “I am happy to be back,” the star forward expressed about his nomination for the five-time world champions in an Instagram story. Since February, Neymar has been playing for his youth club, FC Santos, following his departure from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Brazil is set to host Colombia on March 20 and will travel five days later to face league leaders Argentina at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. “We should not set our expectations too high and place all responsibility on his return. We need balance and consistency in these two matches,” Dorival added.

Currently, the Seleção sits in fifth place in the World Cup qualifiers after twelve matches, trailing seven points behind rival Argentina, who leads the table. The top six teams will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.