Neymar's Brazil Return Halted by Injury, Endrick Called Up as Replacement
Brazil's hopes of welcoming back Neymar to the national team have been dashed once again due to injury. The 33-year-old Santos star, who was named in Dorival Junior's latest squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, has been ruled out with a thigh injury.
Brazil fans were initially excited when coach Dorival Junior included Neymar in the squad earlier this month. The forward, who rekindled his passion for the game after transferring from Al-Hilal to Santos in January, was set to make his first appearance for the Selecao since 2024. However, his long-awaited return has now been postponed.
"After the evaluations carried out, these players—Neymar Jr., Danilo, and Ederson—are in a recovery process with their respective clubs. Therefore, they won't be ready to represent Brazil in the upcoming FIFA qualifier matches," Brazil head coach Dorival Junior explained in a statement.
In Neymar's absence, Real Madrid wonderkid Endrick has received a call-up to the national team. Additionally, Alex Sandro and Lucas Perri have been named as replacements for Danilo and Ederson, who are also sidelined due to injuries.
Neymar has been plagued by injuries in recent years. His last appearance for Brazil came in September 2023 during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay, where he suffered an ACL injury that kept him out of action for more than a year.
The five-time world champions now face a challenging schedule without their star player. Brazil will take on Colombia on March 21, followed by a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals and reigning world champions Argentina five days later.
