Rodrygo awaits Neymar's return to Brazil

Real Madrid striker Rodrygo Goes has expressed his optimism about the return of Al Hilal player Neymar to the Brazilian national team after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury. This came after Rodrygo led the Brazilian national team to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in the seventh round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scoring the only goal of the match. Rodrygo said: "Neymar has always been a pivotal player in the national team, and we rely on him a lot. We hope he returns soon because he will be decisive for us." He stressed the importance of sharing responsibilities in the national team, pointing to his role in guiding young players such as Estevao and Endrick. The injury has kept Neymar off the field since Brazil's loss to Uruguay in October 2023, and the team is awaiting his return to regain his attacking strength.