Star Brazil striker Vinicius Junior has said that although he doesn’t know which number he would wear at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the no. 10 shirt definitely belongs to Neymar and he won’t be wearing that number.
Carlo Ancelotti has included Neymar in Brazil’s 26-man team for the tournament in the United States starting in June. Neymar hasn’t represented the national team since suffering a knee injury against Uruguay in 2023.
Before his injury, Neymar wore Brazil’s iconic No. 10 shirt, earlier donned by legends such as Pele, Zico and Ronaldinho. In his absence from the national team, both Vinicius and Raphinha have worn the famous jersey.
Amidst speculation over who will wear the iconic No. 10 shirt at the FIFA World Cup, Vinicius has ruled
himself out of contention, insisting that the jersey belongs to Neymar and suggesting he has no intention of competing for it.
“I don’t know what number I will wear at the World Cup, but the No. 10 belongs to Neymar; that is obvious,” Vinicius said while speaking to CazeTV.
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 international goals. The tournament this summer will mark his fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup.
Brazil’s preparations have been dominated by the soap opera surrounding Neymar’s inclusion in Ancelotti’s team.
Neymar will feature at his fourth FIFA World Cup despite not having been capped in the past three years.
Yet with Neymar likely to play just a peripheral role on the field, the real key will be how Ancelotti gets the best out of an unbalanced team.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker and centre-backs Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos provide a defensive base that is the best in the tournament.
But there are clear deficiencies at full-back, central midfield and centre-forward compared to Brazil teams of old.
