FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Neymar first training for Al Hilal after injury - Al Hilal Club, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - February 14, 2024 Al Hilal's Neymar during training after rupturing ligaments with the Brazilian national team in October 2023 Al Hilal Club/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
(Reuters) - Coach Dorival Jr said on Friday that he would wait until Neymar is fully fit to bring him back into the Brazil squad as he announced the roster for October's South American qualifiers.
The Al-Hilal forward, who has not played since last year and missed the Copa America, underwent surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee.
"We'll wait, we'll be patient, it doesn't matter if he can't come back in October, November or even February. He needs to be confident, he needs to play and above all he needs to be completely healed from this injury," Dorival told a news conference.
"We are starting to realise how important he is. If he returns in the coming years, we will have one of the greatest players in world football at a remarkable moment in his career and in our national team," he added.
Brazil currently sit fifth in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Striker Igor Jesus and centre-backs Abner and Vanderson have been included in Dorival's squad as he looks to get the five-time world champions back on track when they take on Chile on Oct. 10 before hosting Peru five days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Bento, Ederson
Defenders: Danilo, Vanderson, Abner, Guilherme Arana, Bremer, Eder Militao, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos
Midfielders: Andre, Bruno Guimaraes, Gerson, Rodrygo, Lucas Paqueta
Forwards: Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Jesus, Luiz Henrique, Raphinha, Savinho, Vinicius Jr
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
