'Glad to be back' - Neymar reacts to first Brazil call up in almost 18 months following electrifying Santos return

Neymar has not played for the Selecao since suffering a serious knee injury against Uruguay in October 2023. Since returning to Santos in January, the 33-year-old has been in impressive form, scoring three goals and providing three assists in seven appearances.

After learning of his call-up, Neymar took to Instagram to share his excitement, posting a photo of himself watching the squad announcement on television. The caption read: "Happy to be back!", highlighting his eagerness to wear the iconic yellow jersey once again.

@neymarjr Instagram

Speaking about Neymar’s return, Brazil’s head coach Dorival Júnior expressed his faith in the forward’s ability to make a significant impact in the upcoming qualifiers.

"There's no need to talk about what Neymar represents," the manager told reporters. "He is currently recovering his form, we understand and are aware of this. But we believe his abilities and qualities allow him to be in a condition to overcome any situation on the field. He is a player whose [Brazil] team-mates themselves publicly expressed what he represents to the group.

"We were waiting for him to return, this is the first opportunity that we could have him [since recovering from injury]. I hope he is very happy when he returns. Let's give him the confidence to develop to the best of his ability, let's not create high expectations, let's not place all the responsibility on his return."

Brazil are currently experiencing a challenging World Cup qualifying campaign, sitting fifth in the South American standings after 12 matches. The Selecao are seven points behind leaders Argentina, having won just five games.

With crucial fixtures on the horizon, Neymar’s return could provide a much-needed boost for the team. The Selecao are set to face Colombia in Brasilia on March 20, followed by a highly anticipated clash against reigning world champions Argentina in Buenos Aires on March 25.