Sep 11, 2018; Landover, MD, USA; Brazil forward Neymar (10) dribbles the ball past El Salvador midfielder Arturo Álvarez (12) during an international friendly soccer match at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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Neymar Shines with Brace for Santos, Eyes Brazil Return in World Cup Qualifiers

Coaches from Carlo Ancelotti’s technical team were in the stands at MorumBIS stadium in Sao Paulo to observe Neymar’s recovery.

Neymar is slowly rediscovering his form and just in time. The Brazilian forward scored twice to lead Santos to a much-needed 3–1 home win over Juventude on Monday night as his team ended a three-match winless streak in the Brazilian Serie A. It was a vintage display from the 33-year-old, who found the net once in each half.

The performance not only lifted Santos back into mid-table but also marked Neymar’s third goal of the 2025 league season and sixth across all competitions. Having played 17 matches this season, Neymar seems to be gaining momentum after a year-long absence due to a serious knee injury sustained during Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023. Notably, this was the first time since 2022 that Neymar played five consecutive matches.

Neymar Eyes Brazil Return

Now, the former Barcelona and PSG forward has his sights firmly set on a return to the national team for Brazil’s final qualifiers in September. Brazil will play a home match against Chile at Maracana on the 4th and then have an away clash scheduled with Bolivia on the 9th. Brazil sit comfortably in third place with 25 points and have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

When asked about a potential Selecão return, Neymar said after the game,

“Everyone knows what I’m capable of. I’m ready and I feel good. Now it’s up to the national team staff to decide. It’s a good feeling to play well and win again. We need to continue to improve and be clear that we have learned from our mistakes. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

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Coaches from Carlo Ancelotti’s technical team were in the stands at MorumBIS stadium in Sao Paulo to observe Neymar’s continued recovery. The Santos attacker’s impressive outing against Juventude will only strengthen his case. With six goals and three assists in 2025, Neymar is proving that despite his injury struggles, he’s far from done.

Brazil National Team

Carlo Ancelotti

Neymar

Santos

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.