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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Brazil have been dismal in recent times</li><li>Could not make it to the Copa America final</li><li>Romario wants the team to play around Neymar</li></ul>

Brazil legend Romario fires blunt warning to Selecao about talisman Neymar

World Cup Qualification CONMEBOL

Brazil

Uruguay

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<p>Neymar's career has been marred by injuries, impacting his ability to consistently perform at his best. Last year, he suffered a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/neymar-emotional-message-to-brazil-critics-experiencing-anguish-fan-costa-rica-draw-vinicius-jr-co-copa-america/blt0e8b75e102a38a50" target="_blank">severe knee injury while on national duty,</a> which ruled him out of this year's Copa America where Brazil were thoroughly unimpressive and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/ronaldinho-copa-america-brazil-2026-world-cup/bltdec5e7ebd3db92d4" target="_blank">got knocked out by Uruguay in the last eight</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Brazil is the most successful nation in World Cup history, boasting five titles but their last triumph came in 2002. Despite Neymar's presence in the squad during the last three editions of the global tournament, Brazil have fallen short of reclaiming their former glory and the team's struggles to secure their sixth crown have been a source of national disappointment.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Romario, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994, believes Neymar is still the key to the team's success and insists that the players must rally around him to achieve their goal.</p><p>Speaking in an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1994 World Cup, he said: "Man, the history of football, of the countries that were champions, it is there...In 70, it was Pele, in 94, it was Romario, in 2002 it was Ronaldo. If they (Selecao) don’t play for Neymar, Brazil won’t be champions... They've already played in two or three World Cups and they didn't play for him. Until they understand that he (Neymar) is the man that makes the difference…they will continue getting f*cked.”</p>

WHAT ROMARIO SAID

<p>Neymar has only managed to score eight goals in 13 World Cup appearances, with just three of those goals coming during the knockouts.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Neymar is currently in rehabilitation but is expected to return to competitive football in the next couple of months. Brazil needs their talisman to fire on all guns as they are currently struggling in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with just seven points from their first six matches. While he is still doubtful for the September international window, it is more likely that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/neymar-will-be-important-player-brazil-ahead-2026-world-cup-dorival-junior-update-al-hilal-star-recovery-acl-injury/blta4815cc0aeade0b7" target="_blank">he will make a comeback in October</a> against Chile.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

'Keep getting f*cked' - Brazil legend Romario fires blunt warning to Selecao about talisman Neymar | Goal.com US

Brazil legend Romario warned the Selecao that they must play for Neymar in the 2026 World Cup or &quot;keep getting f*cked&quot;.