Dorival Junior insists Neymar is 'capable of accelerating' Brazil's progress as he addresses Al-Hilal star's future with the national team after latest injury setback

Neymar has not featured for Brazil since October 2023, when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him sidelined for a year. The attacker returned to action in the AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal, but sustained another injury two weeks ago, justifying Dorival's decision to leave him out of the Brazil squad for the 1-1 draws with Venezuela and Uruguay.

The Selecao's World Cup qualifying campaign has been a disaster by Brazilian standards as they sit fifth in the CONMEBOL table and seven points behind leaders Argentina. With pressure building on Dorival, the coach feels having a fully fit Neymar at his disposal would have had an uplifting effect on the team.

"I have never hidden my admiration for him. We all know how capable he is," the coach said of the 32-year-old forward. "I would like him to return to the team at a time when the team can support him. I hope that happens again in March, or the following year. All we want is for him to be fully fit so that he can do his best. I have no doubt that with Neymar, the national team's performance will be even better. I think that back then it would have been too early to imagine a return. If he were fit, he would already be accelerating this process for us.

"We were right not to call him up last time, especially because of what happened later, his injury. We were very cautious and safe, because we were monitoring his situation. We took the right approach. First, we want him to recover his conditions at the club, and then he returns to the national team, because he is essential, yes. I have no doubt that he will continue to grow with the team."

Neymar appears set to leave Al-Hilal when his contract expires at the end of the season. A return to Santos, where his career started, is touted as a possibility, though the attacker's agent insists there have been no talks over ending his contract with the Saudi Arabian side.