Brazil coach Dorival Junior makes key decision on Neymar’s return to face Messi’s Argentina
Neymar’s remarkable recovery and impressive performances with Santos have sparked excitement among fans eager for his return to the Brazil national team. With upcoming matches against Colombia and Lionel Messi’s Argentina less than a month away, coach Dorival Junior has made a significant decision regarding the star’s return.
Neymar has been absent from Brazil’s squad for the past year and a half, following an ACL injury sustained in October 2023 during the 0-2 loss to Uruguay. Since then, the national team has struggled to maintain its dominance on the world stage, but coach Dorival Junior has been working to rebuild confidence ahead of the crucial upcoming fixtures.
In a key move, Dorival Junior has decided to include Neymar in the preliminary squad for Brazil’s March matchups against Colombia and Argentina. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) released the list of 52 players who will be considered for the final 23-man squad, and Neymar’s name is among them.
Brazil will first host Colombia on March 20th at the Arena BRB Mané Garrincha for Matchday 13 of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers. On March 25th, the team will travel to Buenos Aires to face Argentina.
The final squad list will be announced on March 8th, and that will determine whether Neymar will make his long-awaited return to the national team. If included, Neymar and Messi will face off on the international stage for the first time since 2021.
Brazil’s performance without Neymar
During Neymar’s absence, Brazil saw players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Raphinha step up. However, the team struggled to find their rhythm without their star player, resulting in results far from expected for the national team.
In the 16 matches Brazil played without Neymar, they secured 6 wins (2 in friendly games), 7 draws, and suffered 3 defeats, scoring 23 goals and conceding 15. Brazil’s current standing in the World Cup qualification table reflects their struggles, sitting 5th with 18 points, some distance from the top spots.
The team’s performance in the 2024 Copa America was also disappointing. In the USA, Brazil barely made it out of the group stage and was subsequently eliminated by Uruguay in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.