Neymar Left Out of Brazil Squad: Right Call or Huge Mistake?

Let’s be honest for a second.

When the Brazil national team announced its squad this week, I bet you did what I did: scrolled through the list of names. Vinícius? ✔️ Rodrygo? ✔️ Raphinha? ✔️

And then finally reached the bottom of the list.

And thought to yourself: wait a minute…

No Neymar.

The man who has made 128 appearances in a Brazilian shirt. The man who has been a record-breaker in a Brazilian shirt. The man who has been the face of Brazilian football for over a decade.
Watching from home as Brazil gets ready to take on Argentina and Colombia in two World Cup qualifiers.
What’s wrong with that picture?

But then comes the question:

Was that a wrong decision?

The Numbers Don’t Lie—But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Let’s face it: reality.

Neymar has not played a match in a Brazilian shirt since October 2023.
Almost two and a half years.
ACL injury. Long recovery. Comeback to Santos to get everything going again.

Didn’t quite work out that way.
11 games. 2 goals.

But more importantly: he hasn’t been playing like a superstar.
Not like that guy who glides past defenders.
Not like that guy who can do the impossible.
Not like that guy who can carry a nation to a World Cup title.
There’s been a serious lack of that guy.

Enter Dorival Júnior: stick with the legend or look to the future?
He chose to take a chance on a younger generation.
A “technical decision.” “Needs minutes.”

Let’s get real:

If he was still Neymar, minutes don’t matter. He’ll be out there.

The problem is he’s not Neymar anymore.
And that tells you everything.

The Case for Leaving Him Out

If you remove the emotion from the equation, you realize very quickly:
These aren’t friendlies.
These are Argentina.
These are Colombia.
These are high-pressure matches.

Can Neymar perform under all that stress? Can he perform at an elite level at 34 years old after coming back from a serious injury? Can he perform for 90 minutes?
Right now? No.

Meanwhile, Brazil is changing:
Vinícius Júnior playing at an elite level.
Raphinha playing at an elite level.
Rodrygo playing at an elite level.
Young guns waiting for their moment to explode.

It’s not just about replacing Neymar.
It’s about protecting Brazil.
And maybe even protecting Neymar himself.

Because when he does play and he does struggle:
The narrative will change very quickly.
From legendary player…
To an old player who can’t perform anymore.

The Case Against It

But football isn’t logic.
It’s emotion.
It’s moments.
It’s history.

And Neymar is all of those:
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer.
A player who has had the burden of expectation placed upon him for his entire career.
Expectations he has far exceeded.

You don’t just replace a player like Neymar.
You don’t just replace:
Creativity.
Unpredictability.
Magic under pressure.

Because when all else fails:
You need someone who can bring something out of nothing.

And even now:
Neymar can still do just that.

Think about it:
85th minute.
Tight game.
Against Argentina.

Who do you trust?

A young player who has never been here before.
Or a player who has been here his entire career?

The Bigger Question: Is This the End?

This is where it gets real.
Because this might not just be a selection call.
This might be a defining moment.

Dorival has not closed the door on Neymar. Neymar still has a way back in.

Of course, football is a fast-paced sport.

And if Brazil:

Win without him
Win better without him
Look freer without him
Look less burdened by expectation

Then what?

Then comes the transition phase.

The truth is, though, that Brazil have been in transition for a while now.
They just never made it official.

Until now.

What I Think

I have thought this through.
My head says one thing.
My heart says another.

My head says:
It is the right call.
Neymar is not ready.
The games are too important.
Brazil is strong enough without him.

My heart says:
My heart wanted one more moment.
One more walkout in yellow.
One more performance in a big game.
One more reminder of who Neymar is.

Because players like Neymar do not come along often.

And when they leave—
You feel it.

Final Thought

Brazil is in transition.
With or without us being ready for it.

And the real question is not really about Neymar.
It is really this:

Can Brazil win without him?