Brazil defender Danilo has backed Neymar to inspire the five-time world champions to glory at the ongoing 2026 World Cup tournament.
The inclusion of the former Barcelona star in the 26-man squad of Carlo Ancelotti raised eyebrows and that decision has not been justified due to his injury problem.
Neymar missed Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw against Morocco and is now set to miss their second group game against Haiti due to fitness concerns.
Despite this, Danilo is confident in Neymar’s ability and has backed him to influence games for Brazil when he makes his return to the pitch.
“I often talk with players about opponents… If you have a player like Neymar up against you, there’s more pressure and you’re always asking for help,” he explained. “Just by being on the pitch, he can disrupt everything the opponent has prepared”, Danilo said.
Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw in their opening match last week as Vinicius Junior’s super goal cancelled out Morocco’s opener through Ismael Saibari.
Danilo, though, believes that while they were not up to level in their opener, there is always room for improvement.
“It was frightening, because there was an expectation that we would produce a big performance”, Danilo added.
“When things don’t work out, it’s not easy to digest. We need to find balance. We were unbalanced both tactically and mentally.
“We have to be clear: we don’t yet have the maturity that France or Argentina have today as a team. That doesn’t mean we can’t perform well, win matches and go far.
“If we can add one more star to the shirt, that would be wonderful”, he concluded.
Brazil face Haiti in their second group game on Friday as they look to secure their first win of the tournament.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
