Neymar, who recently returned to Santos after a brief stint in Saudi Arabian football, is the biggest surprise on Brazil’s preliminary roster for the South American qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina in March, as announced by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

A Highly Anticipated Comeback

Neymar's call-up has sparked excitement, as he has not played for the Seleção since October 2023, when he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in Montevideo. However, after a month of action with Santos, the No. 10 stated that he feels "physically better" and hopes to wear the national team jersey again soon.

"It has always been a great honor for me to represent the national team," he said last Sunday after scoring an olimpico goal in a 3-0 victory over Inter de Limeira in the final round of the Campeonato Paulista group stage.

Dorival Júnior Shapes His Squad

Besides Neymar, head coach Dorival Júnior’s preliminary list includes intriguing names such as Antony (Real Betis), Endrick (Real Madrid), and Samuel Lino (Atlético de Madrid), along with experienced players Lucas Moura and Oscar (São Paulo). Regulars like Marquinhos (PSG), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo, and Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) are also featured.

The final 23-player squad will be announced on March 7, ahead of Brazil’s match against Colombia on March 20 in Brasília and the clash with reigning world champions Argentina on March 25 in Buenos Aires.