Neymar looks to emulate Ronaldo at the World Cup

Brazilian forward Neymar is preparing for the World Cup after a prolonged injury to his calf. He has been using physiotherapy boots and recovery treatments while missing recent matches. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hopes Neymar can contribute both on the field and in the locker room, comparing his potential impact to that of Ronaldo’s comeback in 2002.

President Luiz Inácio Lula criticized Neymar for his past political stance, saying, “Neymar is the first footballer that Brazil calls up and teleworks… soon they will call up a team of Pelés by AI,” but the comment reportedly strengthened team cohesion. Neymar, a father of four, expressed a desire to enjoy his “last dance” at the tournament and help Brazil advance far.

The story references past recovery efforts for Ronaldo, who returned from knee surgery before leading Brazil to a pentacampeonato, and notes that the Inter Milan training centre in Milan hosted discussions about player fitness ahead of the competition.