Explained: Why Neymar Jr will miss Brazil vs Ecuador FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier
By Aman Shukla Published on June 5, 2025, 20:10 IST
Brazil's national football team is set to face Ecuador in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier on June 5, 2025, at the Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo in Guayaquil. However, fans will be disappointed to learn that Neymar Jr., Brazil's all-time top scorer, will not be part of the squad for this highly anticipated match. Here's a detailed look at why Neymar is absent. Reason for Neymar's Absence
Neymar's absence from the Brazil squad for the upcoming qualifier stems from a muscle injury he suffered in April 2025 while playing for his boyhood club, Santos. Although he was included in a 50-man preliminary squad for the match, new Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti decided not to include him in the final 26-man roster, citing the need for Neymar to fully recover before returning to international duty. Ancelotti emphasized that Neymar's recent return to competitive football was too soon for the rigors of a high-stakes qualifier.
Ancelotti confirmed he spoke with Neymar, stating, 'Neymar's out of the list as he's just returned from injury. I spoke to Ney and we've agreed on this. I trust Neymar, I count on him, we want him to arrive in best conditions to the World Cup.' This cautious approach reflects Brazil's long-term strategy to ensure their star player is in peak condition for the 2026 World Cup. Neymar's Injury History
Neymar has faced significant injury challenges in recent years, most notably a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injury sustained during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023. This injury sidelined him for nearly 17 months, causing him to miss key international tournaments, including the 2024 Copa América. After returning to Santos in January 2025, Neymar showed flashes of brilliance, scoring three goals and providing two assists in seven matches. However, the muscle injury in April 2025 set back his progress, prompting Ancelotti to prioritize his recovery over an immediate return.
Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at BusinessUpturn.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Shouldn't be involved': Wayne Bennett hit with staggering ban by NRL
The Australian Rugby League Commission has effectively banned Wayne Bennett from becoming the next Kangaroos coach after insisting the job must go to someone without any ties to an NRL team. And it fires Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith into a battle for the prestigious role. Mal Meninga relinquished his duties as Kangaroos coach on Friday, stepping down after nine years in charge to take on the Perth Bears job. Meninga was unveiled as Perth's inaugural coach, and will set about compiling their roster with immediate effect before they enter the NRL competition in 2027. It means the NRL will have to appoint a new Kangaroos coach before the revamped Ashes series against England later this year. Meninga had previously expressed his hope that he would still be able to lead Australia in the Ashes, but the NRL wants his sole focus to be on the Bears. There had been speculation that South Sydney coach Bennett would put his hand up to lead the Kangaroos, after he previously coached Australia in 1998, 2004 and 2005. But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in Sydney on Friday that the ARL Commission wants the national team coach to be someone with no ties to club footy, and Bennett is under contract with Souths until the end of 2027. "The commission has a long-held policy that the Kangaroos coach shouldn't be involved in coaching clubs as well, and that policy is going to continue," Abdo said. "We are all very excited for the end-of-season tour, it's been a long time in waiting, and of course we have a World Cup next year. Today was about announcing Mal as the Perth Bears coach, and now with that secured the commission will turn its attention to the right candidate for the Kangaroos." Fittler, Smith and Kevin Walters have all been floated as the front-runners for the Kangaroos job. It puts Fittler and Smith in a somewhat awkward situation considering they're colleagues at Channel 9 and regularly appear on-air together. Smith has no experience as a head coach, but previously worked as an assistant to Billy Slater with the Queensland State of Origin team. The Melbourne Storm legend is regarded as one of the leading brains in the NRL, but has no desire to coach at club level. RELATED: Michael Maguire confirms axing of State of Origin player at Broncos Door ajar for Reece Walsh as Ponga on cusp of State of Origin ban Fittler coach the NSW team from 2018 to 2023, winning three out of six series in charge of the Blues. He returned to coaching last year to lead the Prime Minister's XIII team in the one-off Test match against PNG. The 53-year-old had an ill-fated stint as Sydney Roosters coach from 2007 to 2009, winning just 25 out of 58 games. As for Walters, he's the man with the most recent coaching experience after leading the Brisbane Broncos from 2021 to 2024. He helped the Broncos make the grand final in 2023, but was sacked at the end of last season after missing the finals. The 57-year-old also coached Queensland in Origin from 2016 to 2019 for a 50 per cent winning record. After formally accepting the Bears role on Friday, Meninga stressed that the Kangaroos coach is a "full-time job". He said: "It's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments. From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on." with AAP
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Wales will go on attack in Belgium, says Bellamy
Craig Bellamy has won five and drawn four of his nine games as Wales head coach [Getty Images] World Cup qualifier: Belgium v Wales Venue: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Date: Monday, 9 June Kick off: 19:45 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One, S4C, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. Advertisement Head coach Craig Bellamy vowed Wales would go on the attack in Belgium on Monday after beating Liechtenstein to top their World Cup qualifying group. Friday night's 3-0 triumph in Cardiff extended Wales' unbeaten start under Bellamy to nine games and took them two points clear at the summit of Group J. They face their sternest challenge yet under their former captain on Monday when they travel to Brussels to face the group's top seeds. Belgium only started their campaign on Friday, conceding a late equaliser in North Macedonia to leave them six points behind Wales, albeit with two games in hand. Advertisement Asked if he thought that result put Belgium under pressure before facing Wales, Bellamy said: "No, I don't. These games can happen. They haven't lost. "Did I expect them to get three points? I did. I need to see the game back to give you a better rundown on what happened and how it happened, and even for myself. But, yeah, North Macedonia played their part, so good. "We go there and I'm not camping. I'm not sitting back. It's not in my make-up. I can't do it, I don't want to do it. "So let me watch the game a little bit more. I've got a little bit more in my head but I'm really excited about it." Advertisement Wales were utterly dominant against Liechtenstein, as they would have expected to be against predominantly part-time opponents ranked 205th in the world. Although they were initially frustrated by their determined, defensive visitors, Wales secured victory with goals by Joe Rodon, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore – and the winning margin could have been far greater. "There is a lot I liked. I'd really like us to make this six, seven, eight. That's what we need to push," said Bellamy. "These games have never been easy for our nation. We have a proven record of that and the chances we created we could make this more. Advertisement "We'll get to that, but I liked the reactions as soon as we lose we get it back. The mentality of the players was really good. Did we expect to win? Of course we did. "Did we expect such a slow game? I felt our ball boys could have been a bit quicker. "We are at home so we have a choice in that as well. I'm going to be looking for them in a bit - I'm not, I'm joking."
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Venezuela defeats Bolivia 2-0 to approach World Cup intercontinental playoff spot
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela beat Bolivia 2-0 on Friday to extend its advantage in seventh place in South American World Cup qualifying and a potential spot in an intercontinental playoff for next year's tournament in North America. Bolivian Héctor Cuellar scored an own goal in the fifth minute after a simple pass to goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra ended in the back of the net. The hosts added a second in the 30th minute with striker Salomón Rondón, Venezuela's all-time top goal scorer with 47 goals, after he chested down a cross from Nahuel Ferraresi and scored with his left foot. Bolivia, which now trails Venezuela by four points with only three rounds to play, never threatened goalkeeper Rafael Romo at the Monumental Stadium in the eastern city of Maturin, Venezuela. Also on Friday, Colombia drew Peru 0-0 at home and failed to overtake Brazil in the standings. It was Colombia's fifth consecutive match without a win. The hosts at the Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla missed suspended striker Luis Díaz, who scored six goals in World Cup qualifying. Jhon Córdoba and Rafael Santos Borré were also out due to injury. World Cup champion Argentina , which secured its 2026 berth in March, leads South American qualifying after 15 matches with 34 points. Ecuador and Paraguay are next with 24 points, but the Ecuadorians have better goal difference. Brazil is in fourth place with 22 points. Uruguay and Colombia, both with 21 points, are in fifth and sixth, respectively, separated by goal difference. Venezuela, the only South American team to have never competed in a World Cup, has 18 points. Bolivia, which still has a chance of moving into seventh place, has 14. Peru and Chile have 11 and 10 points respectively. Several teams could secure their World Cup spots in Tuesday's next set of matches. Ecuador will clinch its spot with a win at Peru and Brazil could also secure its berth with a win, provided Venezuela doesn't add points at Uruguay. Colombia will have to beat Lionel Messi's Argentina in Buenos Aires to come close to its spot before the two final rounds in September. Bolivia will have to overcome Chile at home to keep its chances alive. All 10 South American nations play each other home and away. The top six countries qualify directly to the finals next year in North America. The seventh-place South American team will go into the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026 in North America when six teams will vie for the remaining two spots in the main tournament. ___ AP soccer:
