"Neymar, the World's First Remote-Working Player": Brazilian President Mocks Publicly... Ancelotti Says "He May Return for the Scotland Match"

*This content was translated by AI.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (81), President of Brazil, made a pointed joke about Neymar, who is recovering from an injury, calling him a "remote-working player."

Reuters reported on the 20th (local time) that "President Lula mocked Neymar for his continued absence at a national health event venue."

At a public health investment announcement event held in Belo Horizonte, President Lula asked a boy in the audience who the national team's top player was. When the boy answered "Neymar," President Lula laughed and said, "Neymar doesn't even play in matches. He is the world's first 'remote-working' national team player." He added, "That was a joke I saw on the internet yesterday. Soon, we may have to build the national team with 11 Pelés using artificial intelligence (AI)."

Neymar is a public supporter of Jair Bolsonaro Jeon (President), a political rival of President Lula.

Neymar, who was diagnosed with a calf muscle injury during his club's match last month, missed both the Group C first-round match against Morocco (1-1 draw) and the second-round match against Haiti (3-0 win) in the North American World Cup. Instead of traveling with the team to Philadelphia, the host city of the second match, he remained at the New Jersey base camp to undergo rehabilitation training.

However, expectations are rising that Neymar's return to the field is imminent. Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of the Brazil national team, mentioned shortly after the victory against Haiti that Neymar could play in the final group stage match against Scotland on the 25th. Neymar, who has been undergoing intense rehabilitation twice a day, is scheduled to officially join the national team training on the 23rd for a final check on his participation.

Even if Neymar plays in the Scotland match, it is highly likely he will be used as a substitute rather than a starter. With a first-place finish in the group already highly probable, Brazil is expected to face the second-place team from Group F (likely the Netherlands or Japan) in the Round of 32. For Brazil, the focus appears to be on restoring the match fitness of their star striker rather than forcing him into action.

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*This content was translated by AI.