Neymar’s Absence: Why He’s Missing Today’s World Cup Qualifier

Neymar was set to make a comeback to the Brazil national team during the March international break, having not played since suffering a severe knee injury. However, his return was unexpectedly derailed.

He remains absent from international competition, still recuperating and looking to return for the first time in almost two years.

The star athlete sustained significant ligament damage in October 2023 while playing for Brazil, embarking on a lengthy recovery to regain full fitness.

Earlier this year, Neymar rejoined his childhood club, Santos, on loan, where he has made a positive impact with three goals and three assists in his first seven matches. This performance earned him a spot back on the national team for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina this month.

Nonetheless, he is still unavailable for Brazil’s summer matches in 2025. The Sporting News sheds light on the situation.

Where is Neymar? Why isn’t he playing for Brazil today?

Neymar is absent today because he was not selected for the Brazil squad in the June World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.

At 33, he has been recovering from a muscle injury that forced his withdrawal from the squad in March and has only recently returned to play for Santos. Coach Carlo Ancelotti decided it was best to prioritize his health and not risk further injury until he is fully match-ready for international commitments.

In the meantime, Raphinha leads the Brazilian attack alongside Vinicius Jr. and Matheus Cunha. Vinicius Jr. netted the decisive goal in the first qualifier against Colombia, but Brazil’s offense struggled in their initial summer match against Ecuador, managing only three shots, especially in Raphinha’s absence due to suspension.

What time is Brazil vs. Paraguay kicking off?

This World Cup qualifying game will be held at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is scheduled to start on Tuesday, June 10, at 9:45 p.m. local time.

Here is how that timing breaks down in various regions:

Brazil’s Upcoming Matches: 2025 Schedule

Following the match against Paraguay on June 10, Brazil has two more qualifiers to improve their current position.

The final international window for CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers will occur in September, featuring a home game against last-placed Chile before wrapping up with a challenging away match in Bolivia.