Neymar Returns to Brazil Squad Seeking Redemption After Three-Year Absence

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, has not played for the national team in three years. He was part of the renowned MSN attack but never won a Ballon d’Or. Despite his generational talent, lucrative moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Arabia, along with repeated off-field controversies—including a recent training altercation with Santos teammate Robinho Jr.—have tarnished his career. He is remembered both for his skill and his absence from Brazil’s 7-1 loss to Germany due to injury. The overarching feeling for many is “yes, what a player”, but also, “what a waste.”

That view, however, is largely European. In Brazil, Neymar remains a near-deity, seen as the last bastion of jogo bonito and the essence of the Selecao. He symbolizes both Brazil’s glorious past and its recent struggles. No Brazil team has ever endured a longer World Cup drought than the current 24-year stretch. After decades of collective suffering, Neymar and Brazil desperately need redemption and glory—themes that resonate deeply in the country’s Catholic culture.

Videos of Brazilians reacting to Neymar’s inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad capture this sentiment. Grown men were reduced to tears of joy and fits of destruction, there were street parties, and schoolchildren too young to remember Neymar’s Barcelona prime chanted wildly in celebration. Their devotion appears hard-wired. “Neymar will be an important player for us at the World Cup,” Ancelotti said. “We realised that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition.”

Ancelotti noted that Neymar has scored 11 goals and provided four assists in his last 18 matches for relegation-threatened Santos. His domestic form contrasts sharply with that of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, who has no goals or assists in eight Brazil appearances. Many commentators and social media influencers criticized Ancelotti for omitting Joao Pedro, but questioning the five-time Champions League-winning manager is ill-advised. Real Madrid’s current struggles underscore the value of keeping Ancelotti onside.

Rob Smyth will provide live updates from Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester City at 8pm BST, while Simon Burnton covers Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham at the same time.

“I have no idea [about] that. They don’t have to do anything, honestly. The important thing in our lives is when you look back and say, ‘wow, you can look with a big smile and that is good’. And Bernardo [Silva] can feel that and John [Stones] can feel that. We spoke about that in last days and about [what] we lived. So when you are an old grandfather and you look back and you can laugh for the memories” – Pep Guardiola responded when asked about naming Manchester City’s new North Stand after him, saying memories of his time at the club are sufficient.

“If Tottenham Hotspur get relegated (which is every Arsenal fan’s fantasy), when do we achieve next season’s St Totteringham’s Day? Do we mark it on the final day of this season or do we carry over the occasion to the opening day of the next one?” – Ronald Kondowe.

“Given that Burnley have bounced between the bottom of the Premier League and the top of the Championship a couple of times in recent memory, is it time to replace their parachute payment with a yo-yo payment?” – Peter Oh.

“Surely we have to doff our collective caps to the once ‘Special One’, then ‘Happy One’, then ‘Desperate for a Job One’ and, somewhat inevitably, the ‘Lucky that Real Madrid are Even More Desperate Than He is One’. His Benfica have just gone through the whole league season unbeaten. That surely puts them up there with Arsenal’s so-called ‘Invincibles’, who also went through the season unbeaten (if you ignore them losing once in the FA Cup, twice to Middlesbrough in the Milk Cup and three times in the Big Cup that is). That’s the way this works, right? Hold on a minute. Benfica finished where?” – Noble Francis.

Letters should be sent to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is Noble Francis. Terms and conditions for competitions, when run, are available here.

Women’s Football Weekly is heading for your ears, right here, with a look back at the WSL season that was.

It’s our man David Squires on Celtic crushing Hearts’ hopes of a Scottish fairytale.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.