Neymar's Return: Will He Face Bolivia?

In a 2020 World Cup qualifier match, Brazilian football star Neymar was a doubtful player due to a back injury. Brazil's team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said that Neymar had already started treatment but it was too soon to say whether he would be fit to play against Bolivia. Neymar had left Wednesday's training session early due to back pains. Brazil's coach Tite said that Neymar would be given as much time as possible to recover, and if he was unavailable, Flamengo's Everton Ribeiro would start instead.

Neymar's back injury

Neymar, the Brazilian football superstar, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and his back has been a particular source of trouble. In 2020, Neymar suffered from back pain that threatened his participation in a World Cup qualifier match against Bolivia. Brazil's team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, treated him and reported minor improvements, but it was uncertain whether he would recover in time for the match. Ultimately, Neymar's back injury kept him out of the game, and he had to watch from the sidelines as his team took on Bolivia without him.

Neymar later described the incident as the "worst moment of my life" due to the intense pain and the emotional turmoil of missing the World Cup in his home country. The injury was so severe that, according to doctors, if the impact had been slightly to the left, Neymar could have spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Thankfully, he was able to recover, but the incident highlighted the fragile nature of athletic careers and the constant risk of injury in elite sports.

In addition to the back injuries, Neymar has also endured other significant setbacks. In 2026, he tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee during a World Cup Qualifier match against Uruguay, resulting in a year-long absence from the pitch. Despite these injuries, Neymar has consistently demonstrated his determination to return to the field. As of October 2024, he was reported to be nearing a comeback, with the possibility of playing in an upcoming match for his club, Al Hilal.

Neymar's injuries have not only impacted his club career but also affected his availability for the Brazilian national team. His absence was felt during the 2020 Copa America, which Brazil won without him. With a history of injuries, the medical staff is taking a cautious approach to his recovery, carefully evaluating his fitness before allowing him to return to competitive matches. While Neymar has faced setbacks, his resilience and commitment to his sport are evident, and fans eagerly anticipate his return to the pitch.

Brazil's World Cup qualifier campaign

In their opening match, Brazil faced Bolivia and had to do so without star forward Neymar, who was nursing a back injury. Despite his absence, Brazil was still expected to comfortably beat Bolivia, and they did, winning 3-0. However, this proved to be one of the few bright spots in a difficult campaign.

Brazil then suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Paraguay, their fourth loss in five qualifying games. This result left the five-time world champions in an unfamiliar position, sitting fifth in the qualifying table with only three wins from eight games. Manager Dorival Jr., who was appointed in January, has faced the challenge of integrating new players and finding the best formation for the team.

Brazil's woes continued with a historic 1-0 loss to arch-rivals Argentina at the Maracana. This marked the first time Brazil had ever lost a home World Cup qualifier. This defeat was their third in a row, following 2-1 losses to Colombia and Uruguay, and they also drew 1-1 with Venezuela, leaving interim boss Fernando Diniz without a win in four matches.

Despite these setbacks, Brazil still has time to turn their campaign around, with two-thirds of the qualification process remaining. They will also have Neymar back from his serious knee injury and will hope for the emergence of new stars to bolster their chances. The expanded format of the 2026 World Cup, with six automatic qualification spots for CONMEBOL teams and an intercontinental playoff route, provides Brazil with a safety net.

Brazil's remaining fixtures in the qualification campaign include matches against Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Venezuela again.

Neymar's absence and replacement

Neymar's participation in the match against Bolivia was thrown into doubt after the Brazilian striker was forced to leave a training session early due to back pain. Brazil's team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, confirmed that Neymar had already begun receiving treatment, but it was too soon to determine whether he would be fit for the game.

Neymar's injury history is well documented, and it has caused him to miss a significant number of games for Brazil in the past. In fact, he only played in four out of 16 games in 2020, and was injured in two of those matches. His absence would be a significant blow to the Brazilian team, as he is a key player and was expected to start the match.

However, Flamengo's Everton Ribeiro was on hand to replace Neymar if he was unable to play. Ribeiro was included in the first team for training on Wednesday, and coach Tite confirmed that he would start if Neymar was unavailable. Tite also stated that Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro would captain the side, with Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz partnering him in midfield.

Ultimately, Neymar did end up missing the game due to his back injury, and his replacement, Everton Ribeiro, stepped up to the occasion. Brazil went on to defeat Bolivia 5-1, with Neymar achieving a record-breaking feat in the match. Despite his absence on the field, Neymar still made an impact, celebrating with the team and congratulating his teammates on their victory.

Brazil's previous wins against Bolivia

Brazil has had several wins against Bolivia in the past. Here is a summary of their previous encounters:

March 2022: Brazil 4-0 Bolivia

In their most recent meeting, Brazil dominated Bolivia, winning 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier. Unfortunately, I could not find more detailed information on this match.

October 2020: Brazil 5-0 Bolivia

In this World Cup qualifier, Brazil once again showed their prowess, thrashing Bolivia 5-0.

June 2019: Brazil 3-0 Bolivia

Brazil continued their winning streak against Bolivia in the 2019 Copa America, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory.

October 2017: Bolivia 0-0 Brazil

In this World Cup qualifier, the game ended in a scoreless draw, with neither team able to find the back of the net.

October 2016: Brazil 5-0 Bolivia

Brazil delivered another commanding performance in this World Cup qualifier, defeating Bolivia by a score of 5-0.

1950: Brazil 8-0 Bolivia

In the 1950 World Cup, Brazil recorded an impressive 8-0 victory over Bolivia. This was Bolivia's second match in the tournament, having lost their first game 4-0 to Yugoslavia.

1930: Brazil 4-0 Bolivia

In the inaugural edition of the World Cup in 1930, Brazil won their match against Bolivia by a score of 4-0.

Brazil has historically been the stronger side in head-to-head matchups, often winning by significant margins. However, Bolivia has managed to hold them to draws and even sprung a few surprises with their wins against Brazil, as mentioned earlier.

Bolivia's predicted XI

This lineup included several new additions to the squad, such as Inter Miami centre-back Jairo Quinteros, Beerschot midfielder Ramiro Vaca, and The Strongest midfielder Henry Vaca. There was also the potential for several players to make their debut, including The Strongest goalkeeper Jhohan Gutierrez, Oriento Petrolero defender Marcelo Suarez, Blooming midfielder Richard Spenhay, and Bolivar defender Jose Herrera. However, Lugo attacker Jaume Cuellar was suspended for the match.

Bolivia came into the game following a 3-0 loss to Colombia, with goals from Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz, Junior striker Miguel Borja, and Porto midfielder Mateus Uribe. On the other hand, Brazil had recently beaten Chile 4-0, with goals from Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Philippe Coutinho, and Richarlison.

Brazil had a clear advantage in head-to-head encounters, having won 22 games out of 31 meetings, losing five, and drawing four. The previous encounter in 2020 had resulted in a 5-0 victory for Brazil, with a brace from Roberto Firmino and goals from Marquinhos, Coutinho, and an own goal from Jose Carrasco.

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