'The idol of our generation' - Vinicius Junior 'very happy' Neymar is back at Santos with Brazil national team reunion now imminent

The 33-year-old forward is expected to be named in Dorival Junior’s squad when it is officially announced on Thursday. If he's included, this would mark Neymar’s return to international duty after a lengthy absence. The last time he featured for Brazil was in October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury during a qualifier against Uruguay. That setback kept him sidelined for nearly a year, but it appears he is now building up some momentum again in his homeland.

Speaking to TNT Brasil, Vinícius made it clear how much Neymar’s potential return means to the squad.

"The expectation is great because he is the idol of our generation," Vinicius said.

After struggling with injuries during his stint at Al Hilal, where he made just seven appearances in over 18 months, Neymar opted to return to his boyhood club, Santos, in the January transfer window. This move was aimed at regaining both his form and fitness ahead of a potential international comeback. In Santos’ 2-0 victory over Bragantino on Sunday, Neymar found the net with a well-placed free-kick - his third goal in four games since rejoining the Brazilian club.

"We are very happy that he returned to Santos," Vinicius said. "That he has returned to score and that he is happy, which is always the most important thing."

Despite his goal-scoring form, Neymar's fitness remains a talking point. He was taken off in the 76th minute against Bragantino after feeling discomfort in his thigh. The sight of him receiving treatment on the bench sparked some concern among fans. However, the forward quickly took to Instagram to reassure everyone that his substitution was merely a precautionary decision rather than an indication of a serious issue.

He wrote: "I'm fine, I felt uncomfortable and thought it was better to spare myself! It's been a while since I played a game with this intensity. I'm so happy to be getting back into my best physical shape! Thank you, everyone, for the messages."

Brazil are currently fifth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, seven points behind leaders Argentina after 12 matches. Their inconsistent run, which includes five wins and four defeats, has left them with work to do in the remaining fixtures. Their next challenge will be Colombia at home on March 20, followed by the highly anticipated South American ‘Clásico’ against Argentina in Buenos Aires on March 25.