After remaining absent in two rounds, the iconic number 10 shirt of the Brazilian team could make its appearance in the current edition of the World Cup. Neymar is confirmed for the clash against Scotland, which takes place today in Miami. If the striker is activated by coach Carlo Ancelotti, he will join Pelé and Rivaldo in a remarkable statistic, totaling 14 appearances in World Cups with the most representative uniform number in national football.
The player Neymar currently has 13 games in World Cups wearing the number 10 shirt. To put it into context, Pelé reached the mark of 14 games in four editions of the tournament, while Rivaldo did so in two. However, equaling Neymar’s games record is conditional on his entry onto the field, which must occur from the bench. After a period of recovery from an injury to his right calf, the athlete trained without restrictions for three consecutive days and his inclusion on the related list is certain. The prediction is that he will be rested at the beginning, entering the second half for a gradual reinstatement, even with coach Ancelotti stating that he is capable of playing during the 90 minutes.
Regarding the star’s physical condition, Carlo Ancelotti declared that the striker has full capacity to play the full match. The coach also emphasized the athlete’s dedication to training and expressed satisfaction with his recent performance.
Neymar’s presence on the field will prevent the Brazilian team from reaching an unusual milestone in the history of World Cups. In previous clashes against Morocco and Haiti, the number 10 shirt was not worn by any player. The last time Brazil played three consecutive World Cup matches without its iconic number occurred in 1962, during the second championship campaign, when Pelé was injured in the second round against Czechoslovakia and never returned to the competition.
Neymar’s eventual participation also starts a new countdown in his trajectory for the main team. He currently has 97 games wearing the number 10 shirt, second only to Pelé, who has played 105 times with the same number. If selected to play against Scotland, Neymar will reach the mark of 98 appearances. There is a possibility that he will complete his 100th game wearing the number 10 shirt during this World Cup.