9th September 2024 3:04:50 PM
2 mins readReal Madrid forward Rodrygo says Neymar's presence is vital for Brazil as they pursue their sixth World Cup title in 2026. After scoring the decisive first-half goal that secured Brazil’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Friday, breaking their three-match losing streak in CONMEBOL qualifying, the 23-year-old highlighted Neymar’s importance to the national team’s success moving forward.
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"He's our star, our best player," Rodrygo said in an exclusive ESPN Brasil interview. "Anyone can see it, how much he is missed. Having Neymar healthy, which is what we all want, [and] he is in the final stages of his recovery. We want him back as soon as possible."Brazil, the five-time world champions, ended 2023 on a difficult note, suffering consecutive losses to Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina.
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After these defeats, Brazil sat in sixth place in the standings with just six rounds played. However, with their victory on Friday, Brazil now stands in fourth place with 10 points. They are scheduled to face Paraguay in Asuncion on Tuesday.
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Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading men's scorer, underwent surgery on November 2, 2023, to repair ACL and meniscus injuries in his left knee, which he sustained during a World Cup qualifying loss to Uruguay in October.
former Barcelona and PSG star had joined Saudi club Al Hilal in the summer of 2023 for €90 million. Throughout his career, Neymar has dealt with recurring injuries, including
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several right ankle and foot injuries that sidelined him in 2021 and kept him out of Brazil’s 2019 Copa América triumph.Meanwhile, Rodrygo, a rising star for Brazil, has expressed his admiration for Neymar, stating that they remain in contact and that he views Neymar as his idol."We always message each other. He is now returning to training with the group," Rodrygo said. "He's a great teammate.
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It makes me sad when I see someone talking badly about him, because of the person he is. He always sends me messages, helps me. I love him. In addition to being my idol as a player, as a person he has shown himself to be a fantastic person."Rodrygo tallied 10 goals in 34 LaLiga games last season and scored an additional five goals in the Champions League.
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The arrival of Kylian Mbappé has increased competition for Rodrygo's spot in the Real Madrid lineup. Despite this, coach Carlo Ancelotti has consistently included him in the three-man forward trio for the current season.Meanwhile, Paraguay and Uruguay ended their qualifying match on Friday with a goalless tie.
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