Romario, the legendary Brazilian forward who won the World Cup in 1994, has voiced his belief that Neymar is crucial to Brazil’s success. At an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup victory, Romario emphasized the importance of rallying around Neymar to achieve their goals.
Romario’s Statements on Brazil’s World Cup Chances
Speaking passionately at the event, Romario 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.”
Neymar’s World Cup Performance
Despite his immense talent, Neymar has had a mixed record in World Cup tournaments. He has scored eight goals in 13 World Cup appearances, with only three of those goals coming during the knockout stages. This statistic highlights the need for Neymar to be at his best if Brazil hopes to secure another World Cup title.
Neymar’s Current Status and Future Prospects
Currently, Neymar is in rehabilitation but is expected to return to competitive football in the coming months. His return is crucial as Brazil is struggling in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, having accumulated only seven points from their first six matches. While Neymar’s participation in the September international window is doubtful, he is more likely to make a comeback in October against Chile.
Romario’s assertion that Neymar is central to Brazil’s World Cup ambitions underscores the ongoing debate about the team’s reliance on their star player. With Neymar’s rehabilitation progressing, his return could provide the boost Brazil needs in their qualification campaign. As the qualifiers continue, all eyes will be on Neymar to see if he can lead Brazil to success and cement his legacy as one of the country’s footballing greats.