Neymar, the 33-year-old forward for Santos, has commented on his exclusion from Brazil's national team for the March matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
My return was so close, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to wear the jersey that carries the greatest responsibility in the world this time. We had many discussions, and everyone knows how much I want to come back. However, we reached a mutual decision not to take risks, allowing me to prepare better and fully recover from my injury. Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages of support. This is part of the process.
On March 14, it was confirmed that Neymar would not be able to assist Brazil in its upcoming qualifiers, where the team is set to face Colombia on March 21 and Argentina on March 25.
The decision was based on the player’s physical condition. Neymar last played for the Brazilian national team on October 18, 2023, in a match against Uruguay (0:2), in which he only played the first half.
In total, he has made 128 appearances for his national team, scoring 79 goals and providing 59 assists.
Additionally, it was revealed that the 33-year-old forward cannot bring his collection of cars to Brazil.
