Neymar to miss World Cup qualifier against Colombia
Less than a week before their match against Colombia in the 13th round of South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian national team has lost three players to injury: striker Neymar (Santos), defender Danilo (Flamengo), and goalkeeper Ederson (Manchester City/England). Coach Dorival Júnior announced the first casualties on Friday night (Mar. 14) and called up their replacements: striker Endrick (Real Madrid/Spain), defender Alex Sandro (Flamengo), and goalkeeper Lucas Perri (Lyon/France).
Neymar, the national team’s all-time top scorer, was called up for the first time by Dorival Júnior on March 6. The No. 10 last wore the yellow jersey in Brazil’s 2-0 loss to Uruguay in the October 2023 qualifiers, when he suffered a left knee injury that sidelined him for a year.
In an official statement following Neymar’s recall, Santos announced that the striker had suffered a muscle injury (without a fiber tear) in the back of his left thigh, forcing him to miss the São Paulo Championship semi-final. He will continue to undergo clinical treatment in the coming days.
“The caution in this recovery process is due to the player’s prolonged period without high-intensity activity, underscoring the need for a strict prevention protocol as he resumes training and competition,” the club stated.
Brazil sits in fifth place in the standings with six games remaining. In their last matches of 2024, the team recorded back-to-back 1-1 draws—first away against Venezuela, then against Uruguay in Salvador.
Brazil’s next two matches—against Colombia and Argentina—will be crucial in their quest for World Cup qualification. Only the top six teams out of 20 earn a direct spot, while the seventh-place finisher advances to the playoffs.
The Brazilian squad will arrive in Brasília on Monday (17) to begin preparations. On Thursday (20), they will face Colombia at Mané Garrincha Stadium in the nation’s capital. Their match against reigning world champions Argentina is set for March 25 at the Monumental de Núñez in Buenos Aires.
