Neymar back for Brazil after 16-month absence for World Cup qualifiers - World
Neymar was on Thursday recalled by coach Dorival Junior to the Brazil team after almost a year and a half out injured for upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
Neymar started Brazil's first four qualifying games but went off injured in a defeat to Uruguay in October 2023, his last appearance for the five-time world champions.
Brazil have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying.
After 12 of the 18 rounds, they are fifth in the 10-nation group. But the top six are guaranteed places in the World Cup and Brazil are five points ahead of Bolivia in seventh.
Neymar returns for qualifiers against Colombia on March 21 and world champions Argentina five days later.
Brazil's top scorer with 79 goals said last month next year's World Cup is going to be his last.
He will be 34 by the time the competition in the USA, Canada and Mexico, kicks off.
Neymar scored for the first time in over 14 months last Sunday with his first goal for Santos since his return to his boyhood club at the start of the month.
The 33-year-old helped Santos beat fourth division Agua Santa 3-1 in a Sao Paulo state championship match.
Neymar, who failed to score in his first three games with Santos, stepped up to slot home a penalty in the 14th minute.
It was his 137th goal in 229 appearances for the club he has returned to after leaving them in 2013 for Barcelona.
It was also his first goal for anyone since October 3, 2023 when he was playing for Al Hilal against Nassaji Mazandaran in the Asian Champions League.
He terminated his contract with the Saudi club at the end of January to return home.
Neymar spent 18 months with Al Hilal after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 on a deal that enriched him by a reported 100 million euros ($103m) a season.
Neymar played five games for them before suffering the serious knee injury playing for Brazil against Uruguay.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
5 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
NJPW Announces G1 Climax 35 Participants
Rana Atef On Sunday, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the participants for the 34th G1 Climax tournament. The majority of the participants in the tournament are announced. 16 participants were announced, in addition to four additional participants who will be determined in play-ins. Hiroshi Tanahashi will participate in the tournament for one last time before hanging up his shoes after the upcoming Wrestle Kingdom. AEW, DDT, and NJPW superstar Konosuke Takeshita will compete in this year's tournament as well. The announced list of the participants are as follows: A Block: Yota Tsuji El Phantasmo Hiroshi Tanahashi SANADA David Finlay EVIL Yuya Uemura Boltin Oleg B Block: Hirooki Goto Konosuke Takeshita Zack Sabre Jr. Great-O-Khan Ren Narita Shingo Takagi Gabe Kidd Shota Umino read more Japan Stun Spain 2-1 to Qualify for World Cup Last 16 World Cup 2022: Get to Know Confirmed Line-ups of Japan and Spain Group E Decider Saudi Arabia Bid Farewell to World Cup after 2-1 Loss to Mexico Tunisia Achieve Historic Win over France but Fail to Qualify Tunisia to Clash against France in World Cup Sports Get to Know Squad of Group D Teams in World Cup Sports Al Ahly Gift EGP 70,000 to Players After Claiming Egyptian Super Cup Title Sports Bencharki Hits First 2 Goals with Al Jazira Since Leaving Zamalek Sports Arsenal Possible Line-up for Nottingham Forest News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Al-Ahram Weekly
7 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Pochettino defends Pulisic omission: 'I'm not a mannequin' - World
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino defended his decision to omit Christian Pulisic from recent friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland on Saturday, saying he alone was responsible for choosing his squad. AC Milan star Pulisic has been at the center of a simmering controversy over his request to be excused from US duty in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which kicked off on Saturday. Former US international players including Landon Donovan have criticised Pulisic's decision, questioning his commitment to representing the United States. Pulisic hit back at his critics on Thursday, revealing that while he had asked to skip the Gold Cup he had been willing to play in the warm-up games -- only to be denied by Pochettino. The winger said that he had accepted Pochettino's decision but did not "understand" it. Asked about his decision to leave out Pulisic on Saturday, Pochettino said it was not for players to pick and choose which games they wanted to play in. "He explained why he only wanted to be involved in two games," Pochettino said of Pulisic. "And I respect and I understand him. I understand him. But I don't need for him to understand our decision. Because my position is, I am 53 with a lot of experience in football." "If he performs well and he is the best, it's normal he's going to have a place in the national team. "It's not because a player [is saying]: 'I want to play.' 'I want this.' 'I want that.' I signed my contract with the federation and I am the head coach -- I am not a mannequin." The USA open their Gold Cup campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
8 hours ago
- Egypt Today
Messi falls just short in Club World Cup curtain-raiser stalemate
Inter Miami CF's Lionel Messi takes a corner kick IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Sam Navarro (Reuters) - Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, will take on Palmeiras in New York, where more of their fans are expected to turn up. No incidents were reported at the game after around 1,000 protesters gathered in the morning near U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, about 70 miles (110 km) north of Miami, waving placards and chanting slogans as part of coordinated nationwide "No Kings" demonstrations. In Miami, 60,927 fans almost filled the 65,000-capacity stadium for Inter Miami's clash with Al-Ahly dismissing, at least on the night, concerns about the attractiveness of the tournament featuring 32 teams for the first time, a year before the World Cup in the U.S. Inter Miami, whose home attendances average 20,663 in their 21,550-seat Chase Stadium, have been a major road draw in 2025, regularly attracting record crowds across the country since Messi's arrival in 2023. Adan De La Rosa travelled from Mexico just to see Messi play. "There's a lot of excitement to see Messi, it's the same for everyone," he said. Al-Ahly, backed by dozens of thousands of fans, got off to a strong start but wasted two early chances and Oscar Ustari parried away Trezeguet's poorly taken penalty kick after Zizo was fouled in the box by Telasco Segovia. Messi threatened at times after spending some time on the ground after being hit on the knee, but Miami could feel lucky not to be behind at halftime. Miami, however, stepped up a gear after the break, and Messi came close when his nicely curled 25-metre free kick kissed the post and hit the side netting. With six minutes left, the World Cup winner scooped a perfect cross for Fafa Picault, whose header was tipped over the bar by Mohamed Elshenawy. He came an inch close in the dying second when his curled strike from outside the box was tipped onto the bar by Elshenawy. The Club World Cup continues on Sunday with Champions League winners Paris St Germain taking on Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich playing Auckland City.
