Despite a stunning goal record, Neymar's appearances for Brazil have become increasingly rare, with his average match participation dropping from 73% to just 14%. His recent exclusion from the squad only adds to the mystery.
Brazil face Chile on 5th September already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but attention is focused on the absence of Neymar, who was not included in Carlo Ancelotti's squad.
The Italian coach said: "Neymar had a minor injury problem and we don't need to test him," thus justifying his absence. However, Neymar fuelled the controversy by stating: "I think they left me out for technical reasons; I don't think it has anything to do with my physical condition."
Since the World Cup in Qatar, Neymar has had a limited presence in the national team, playing in only four of the last 27 possible matches (14.81%), whereas previously he had played in 124 of 169 possible matches, representing 73.37% of the matches since his debut.
9 September 2023 Brazil 5-1 Bolivia (2 goals, 1 assist, 1 missed penalty) 13 September 2023 Peru 0-1 Brazil (1 assist) 13 October 2023 Brazil 1-1 Venezuela (1 assist) 18 October 2023 Uruguay 2-0 Brazil (day of his ACL injury)
Brazil have scored 34 goals in the 23 matches played without the Brazilian star since the World Cup (1.48 per match), while with him on the pitch, the average rises to 2.20 per match, as Brazil scored 281 goals in the 128 matches Neymar played with the 'Selecao'.
Neymar has the chance to become the player with the most matches in Brazil's history (he currently has 128), just 14 fewer than Cafu (142), but the current situation makes that mark seem distant due to his age (33) and injuries.
The former Barça star has had a career in which he could have achieved more success or broken records if it hadn't been for bad luck with injuries, something that is clearly reflected in his career as a player for the 'Selecao'. In fact, Neymar could have played up to 23 matches after the Qatar World Cup had it not been for the serious knee injury he suffered with Al Hilal, having become the most capped player in his national team's history.
Considering that he is 33 years old and that national teams currently play fewer matches per calendar year, it is estimated that it would take a less fresh Neymar about two years to achieve this feat with the five-time World Cup winners, always bearing in mind that the current coach, in this case Ancelotti, would count on him for upcoming matches and that his fitness would allow him to play. However, if he is called up, Neymar would still have a great ace up his sleeve that, in addition to bringing him closer to achieving that record, could put the icing on the cake of his career with the 'Selecao': the 2026 World Cup.
If Brazil performs well in the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Mexico and Canada, or even reaches the final, Neymar could play up to eight matches, so many chances of the Santos player becoming the most capped player in the 'Selecao' and surpassing Cafu depend on the next major tournament.