Neymar's Return Hope
Despite injury, Brazil fans hopeful for Neymar's World Cup return after disappointing draw.
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Brazil's 34-year-old superstar Neymar Jr. is out of the 2024 Copa América, sidelined by a torn ACL and meniscus suffered in October 2023. Yet Brazilian fans are not ready to give up on him. Many still believe he deserves a spot on the roster, injuries and all, according to Sports Illustrated.
Brazil has not won the World Cup since 2002 — a 22-year drought for the five-time champions, according to Statista. As the team enters a new era without its biggest star, the country faces a hard question: can Brazil return to glory without Neymar?
Neymar's ACL Injury Ends His Copa América Hopes
Neymar tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay on October 17, 2023, according to Al Jazeera. Brazil's team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, confirmed in December 2023 that a return by July would be "too early" and would risk "unnecessary steps in recovery." Head coach Dorival Júnior officially left Neymar off the Copa América roster on May 10, 2024.
Neymar has played only a handful of games for Saudi club Al-Hilal, where he earns an estimated $98 million per year, according to Forbes. Despite the setbacks, he posted on social media: "The hope of a nation is bigger than any one player, but I am working every day to be back for 2026."
The Ghost of 2010 Still Haunts Brazilian Football
This is not the first time Brazil has gone without Neymar at a major tournament. In May 2010, then-manager Dunga left an 18-year-old Neymar off the South Africa World Cup roster. Dunga defended the call, saying, "My commitment was to the hierarchy and the group that got us there, not to the hype of a single boy," according to a FIFA archive interview. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Netherlands.
The 2010 snub remains a sore spot in Brazilian culture. Fans see it as a tactical mistake that robbed the team of its "jinga" — the flair and creativity that defines Brazilian soccer at its best. Morocco handed Brazil a 2-1 defeat in a March 2023 friendly, the first time the African nation had ever beaten the "Seleção," according to the Associated Press.
VinÃcius Jr. Steps Up as Brazil Shifts Its System
Without Neymar, coach Dorival Júnior is moving Brazil to a 4-3-3 system built around Real Madrid's VinÃcius Júnior and Rodrygo. Vini Jr. told reporters in June 2024, "Neymar is our leader, but we are ready to take responsibility," according to Marca. The shift puts enormous pressure on a young squad that has never carried the team at a major tournament.
Brazil currently sits sixth in the 2026 World Cup qualifying table — an unusually low spot for the five-time world champions, according to CONMEBOL. Football journalist Tim Vickery argues that Neymar's absence could be a "blessing in disguise," forcing Brazil away from relying on one player and toward a more disciplined team style, according to ESPN FC.
A Nation Divided: Nostalgia vs. the Road to 2026
A June 2024 poll found that 54% of Brazilian fans believe the team is "more balanced" without Neymar. But 70% still want him back for the 2026 World Cup, according to Datafolha. Neymar holds Brazil's all-time scoring record with 79 goals — surpassing even Pelé's 77 — according to FIFA.
The debate splits fans into two camps. Traditionalists say Brazil needs a creative "Number 10" to win, and point to the Morocco loss as proof. Pragmatists say Neymar's injury history makes him a risk. Either way, the 2024 Copa América is Brazil's chance to prove it can win as a team — not just as a country waiting for one man to save it.
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