RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Neymar was on Thursday recalled by coach Dorival Junior to the Brazil staff after virtually a yr and a half out injured for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers towards Colombia and Argentina.
Neymar began Brazil’s first 4 qualifying video games however went off injured in a defeat to Uruguay in October 2023, his final look for the five-time world champions.
Brazil have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying.
After 12 of the 18 rounds, they’re fifth within the 10-nation group. However the prime six are assured locations within the World Cup and Brazil are 5 factors forward of Bolivia in seventh.
Neymar returns for qualifiers towards Colombia on March 21 and world champions Argentina 5 days later.
Brazil’s prime scorer with 79 objectives mentioned final month subsequent yr’s World Cup goes to be his final.
He might be 34 by the point the competitors in the US (US), Canada and Mexico, kicks off.
Neymar scored for the primary time in over 14 months final Sunday together with his first purpose for Santos since his return to his boyhood membership in the beginning of the month.
The 33-year-old helped Santos beat fourth-division Agua Santa 3-1 in a Sao Paulo state championship match.
Neymar, who failed to attain in his first three video games with Santos, stepped as much as slot house a penalty within the 14th minute.
It was his 137th purpose in 229 appearances for the membership he has returned to after leaving them in 2013 for Barcelona.
It was additionally his first purpose for anybody since October 3, 2023, when he was taking part in for Al Hilal towards Nassaji Mazandaran within the Asian Champions League.
He terminated his contract with the Saudi membership on the finish of January to return house.
Neymar spent 18 months with Al Hilal after becoming a member of from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 on a deal that enriched him by a reported 100 million euros (US$103 million) a season.
Neymar performed 5 video games for them earlier than struggling a critical knee harm taking part in for Brazil towards Uruguay.
