Brazil’s all-time top scorer Neymar and Manchester United winger Antony have been named in the national squad for the first time since 2023, after manager Dorival Junior included both players in a provisional 52-man squad for upcoming March fixtures.
Neymar, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, hasn’t played for Brazil since October 2023. Antony, on the other hand, could make his return to the Selecao for the first time since May 2023, following an impressive spell at Spanish club Real Betis, where he joined on loan from Manchester United in January after struggling for game time at Old Trafford despite being the club’s second-most expensive signing.
Brazil, currently in fifth place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, will face Colombia in Brasilia on March 21 (12:45 am) and Argentina in Buenos Aires on March 26 (12:00 am). The top six teams from Conmebol automatically qualify for the World Cup.
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Neymar: Brazil squad recall Neymar’s recent form with Santos has seen him score three goals and provide three assists in his last four matches, including a free-kick in Santos’ 2-0 win over Bragantino on Sunday. The 33-year-old returned to Santos in January after a brief and limited spell at Al Hilal, the Saudi Pro League club he joined from Paris Saint-Germain for £77.6 million in August 2023.
Neymar, still the world’s most expensive player due to his £200m transfer from Barcelona to PSG in 2017, made the move to Saudi Arabia partly to continue his World Cup ambitions, which he hopes to pursue in the 2026 tournament in Mexico, the US, and Canada.
“Absolutely – yes, yes, I will be back [for Brazil],” Neymar told RMC in December. “I am preparing for it, and I am even excited. I should have been called up for [World Cup qualifiers in November], but after talking with the coach, he decided not. Next time, I will surely be with my teammates – I am preparing for it, in any case.”
“There is nothing better than representing your country. We hope that the team will improve. It is evolving. We must not forget that the team is young, we have potential, and we will have to exploit it as quickly as possible so that we can become a great team.”
