Injured Neymar ruled out of Brazil's World Cup qualifiers
With Brazil sitting fifth in South American qualifying, Dorival had hoped Neymar’s return would provide a spark. Instead, Real Madrid’s rising star Endrick will take his place.
Brazil's hopes of a boost in their World Cup qualifying campaign have suffered a setback, with Neymar ruled out of the upcoming matches against Colombia and Argentina due to a thigh injury.
The 33-year-old forward, who had been recalled by coach Dorival Junior, was set to make his return to the national team after nearly a year and a half away. However, persistent trouble with his left thigh over the past two weeks has forced him to withdraw.
Neymar, who rejoined Santos in February and recently scored his first goal for the club in over 14 months, shared his frustration on social media.
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"The return seemed so close, but unfortunately, I won't be able to wear the most important jersey in the world for now," he wrote on Instagram. "We had long discussions, and everyone knows how much I wanted to be back, but we agreed it's best not to take any risks and focus on full recovery."
With Brazil sitting fifth in South American qualifying, Dorival had hoped Neymar's return would provide a spark. Instead, Real Madrid's rising star Endrick will take his place.
Brazil face Colombia in Brasilia on 20 march before travelling to Buenos Aires for a showdown with defending champions Argentina five days later.
