Coach Dorival Jr announced on Friday that Neymar (32) will not return to the Brazil squad until he is fully recovered, as he revealed the roster for the October South American World Cup qualifiers. Neymar, who plays for Al Hilal, has been sidelined since last year due to a serious injury, having torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee.
Dorival emphasized the importance of patience regarding Neymar’s recovery, stating, “We’ll wait as long as needed, whether that’s October, November, or even February. He needs to be fully confident and completely healed before coming back.” He added that when Neymar returns, he will remain one of the greatest players, making a significant impact on the national team.
Currently, Brazil sits fifth in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Dorival has called up striker Igor Jesus and center-backs Abner and Vanderson as he aims to get the five-time champions back on track. Brazil will face Chile on October 10th and then host Peru five days later.
Brazil Squad for October Qualifiers:
- Goalkeepers: Alisson, Bento, Ederson
- Defenders: Danilo, Vanderson, Abner, Guilherme Arana, Bremer, Eder Militao, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos
- Midfielders: Andre, Bruno Guimaraes, Gerson, Rodrygo, Lucas Paqueta
- Forwards: Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Jesus, Luiz Henrique, Raphinha, Savinho, Vinicius Jr
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