On Monday afternoon, Brazil announced its squad for the final two rounds of the World Cup Qualifiers, and the roster included several surprising omissions. The most notable absence is Neymar Jr., whose return had been expected but will not happen. That immediately raises the question: when was the last time he played, and how many times has Lionel Messi featured for Argentina since then?

Neymar’s last match with Brazil took place on October 17, 2023, in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. In that game, he suffered a devastating knee injury — a torn ACL and meniscus — that has kept him out of action with the national team ever since.

Although Neymar has attempted to return, setbacks and further complications have prevented him from rejoining the team. As of late August 2025, his comeba

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