Brazil’s and Paris Saint-Neymar Germain Jr. has cemented his status as one of the best footballers of his generation.
After the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Neymar, a recognized celebrity since his teenage years with Santos, made his national team debut. Notably, in 2011, before making his U-20 debut, the then-18-year-old earned his senior debut for Brazil. Neymar, who cost PSG €222 million when he transferred from Barcelona, is the most expensive football player in history.
After nine games in qualifiers, the 29-year-old has successfully guided Brazil to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, contributing eight times and contributing seven goals. Neymar has carried the Brazil national team since his debut 11 years ago and is presently Selecao’s second-highest scorer with 70 goals in 116 matches.
Only Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus, who has 18 goals overall for the Selecao, has more goals than Neymar while still playing.
No matter how talented a football player is, eventually his or her career must end. Neymar’s international career is about to come to an end at the age of 29. The forward has expressed a desire to finish his international career as quickly as feasible in the past.
Brazil must therefore look for and sign younger players who can step in if he decides to retire. Here are five players who could replace Neymar in the Brazilian national team in light of this:
The fifth: Rodrygo
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The “next Neymar” is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes, a smart youngster. His football career has mirrored Neymar’s in many respects. The 20-year-old, like Neymar, was raised in Santos’ junior system and made his international debut for Brazil in 2019 at the age of 18.
The young player is still gaining experience at the Santiago Bernabeu and has not yet established himself as a starter. In his brief career, he has played for Brazil three times, all of which were as a replacement.
Rodrygo has demonstrated his skill as a finisher while playing on the wing, scoring both of his goals this season in just three UEFA Champions League outings. With a long career ahead of him and only 20 years old, Rodrygo may further cement his position as Neymar’s successor by taking the Selecao team in Neymar’s footsteps.
Notably, Rodrygo is the second-youngest player to ever score a hat-trick in the Champions League.
Fourth: Antony
One of the most well-known Brazilian athletes now playing in Europe is Antony, an Ajax winger. The 21-year-old has dominated the UEFA Champions League and Eredivisie this season. He has one goal and five assists in four Champions League games this year.
Like Neymar, the winger is equipped with a variety of moves that can be used against any defense in his path to the net. He will eventually have to leave Ajax for a more prominent league if he continues on his current course.
The young player made his international debut for Brazil, scoring, and has since played three more times as a substitute. Given his youth, he represents a promising future for Brazil in the years to come, and he will continue to play for the Selecao for the foreseeable future. Antony also competed for Brazil on the team that won the Olympic gold earlier this summer.
Third: Lucas Paqueta
Following in Neymar’s footsteps, Lucas Paqueta is another budding Brazilian sensation with the Selecao. After leaving Flamengo for Europe, the attacking midfielder struggled at AC Milan before being cheaply acquired by Olympique Lyonnais.
The 24-year-old has wowed Brazil when called upon after rediscovering his dazzling best in France. He scored the goal that qualified Brazil for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in his 27th appearance for his country, assisted by a pass from Neymar.
Due to his outstanding accomplishments for the national team, top player Paqueta has swiftly won over Brazilian fans. Brazilian fans have come to love him for his shooting prowess and his inventiveness. He is now one of the squad’s next leaders after Neymar thanks to his performance with the national team.
Second: Richarlison
Another player mentioned as a potential Neymar substitute for Brazil is Richarlison. The Everton forward has excelled ever since making his Premier League debut as a Watford player.
The 24-year-old has proven himself to be a superb goal scorer who can score in a variety of ways and can play anywhere along the frontline. Richarlison, who has made 32 appearances for the Selecao since 2018, is one player who has consistently played with Neymar for Brazil. For his nation, he has already scored ten goals.
He also served as the U-23 team captain for Brazil at the Tokyo Olympics, scoring five goals in six contests. Five years ago, Brazil took home the gold in the same competition, after Neymar. Richarlison is a player to watch in the upcoming seasons due to his flexibility and goal-scoring skills.
First: Vinicius Jr.
Brazilian soccer supporters have recently called Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior the “new Neymar.” The 21-year-old has improved this year under Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid after incorporating precise finishing into his style of play.
Vinicius Jr. and Neymar shared a similar penchant for using crazy tricks and flicks, and he has since improved his finishing.
The young player hasn’t spent much time with the Brazilian national team because he plays the same position as Neymar. It is understandably hard to remove Neymar from the national squad, but it is feasible in the future.
Vinicius has only made eight appearances for Brazil and is goalless. In the upcoming years, the Real Madrid star will unquestionably be crucial for Brazil.
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