Neymar Ruled Out of Brazil’s Qualifiers, Teen Star Endrick Joins the Team
Neymar was set to make his long-awaited return to the Brazilian national team after spending 17 months recovering from a knee injury he suffered against Uruguay in October 2023.
Jaanvy Gill 
However, just as his comeback seemed within reach, the 33-year-old faced another setback, ruling him out of Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
Sharing his frustration on Instagram, Neymar expressed his disappointment, stating that while his return was close, he and the team decided not to take any risks and instead focus on a full recovery.
Following a challenging stint at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Neymar made an emotional return to Santos in January. Since then, he has made an impact in Brazil’s top division, scoring three goals and providing three assists in seven appearances. With 128 international caps, Neymar is second only to Cafu (142) in Brazil’s all-time appearances and remains the country’s record goal scorer with 79 goals, surpassing Pelé.
With Neymar sidelined, head coach Dorival Jr. has made adjustments to the squad. Lyon’s Lucas Perri replaces Manchester City’s Ederson as goalkeeper, while Flamengo’s Alex Sandro steps in for Danilo in defense. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Endrick, who has impressed with six goals in 28 appearances for Real Madrid, continues to be part of the squad.
The young forward has already scored three goals in 13 senior caps for Brazil.Although Neymar’s return is delayed, Brazil will move forward with its talented squad, hoping to secure key victories in the upcoming qualifiers.
