The coach of Brazil, Dorival Júnior, has revealed the list of the 23 players selected for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. The big news in this call-up is the return of Neymar, who has been shining with Santos in recent weeks.

Neymar’s return with Brazil after his injury

The last time Neymar played with the Brazilian national team was in October 2023, in a match against Uruguay, where he suffered an injury that kept him off the field for a long time. The injury, which seriously affected his knee, prevented him from playing for Al-Hilal for over a year. However, after a year and five months, Neymar returns with Brazil, likely wearing the captain's armband, which motivates him to keep improving his level after a successful return with Santos in the Campeonato Paulista.

This return of Neymar to the national team is a great boost for the forward, who has led Santos to the semifinals of the Campeonato Paulista. This return also represents an opportunity for Neymar to showcase his skill and experience leading the Brazilian national team. Undoubtedly, his presence will be key for the crucial World Cup qualifier matches for 2026.

Oscar’s return and experience in the call-up

The call-up was announced by Dorival Júnior at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in Rio de Janeiro. The excitement centered around the inclusion of Neymar, who had been included in the preliminary list of 52 players. With his return, Brazil hopes to regain its strength and quality of play to successfully face the upcoming challenges in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

In the same list, in addition to Neymar, there is also the return of another veteran: Oscar, who recently left Chinese football to join São Paulo. This inclusion shows Dorival Júnior’s bet on experienced players, aiming to approach the qualifiers with solidity and leadership.