Brazil defender Danilo has underlined the importance of Neymar to the national team, saying the forward’s presence alone can create problems for opponents as the Selecao await his return from injury.
He missed Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw against Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a calf injury while playing for Santos in May.
The forward has made progress in his recovery in recent days. After initially training individually, Neymar has returned to ball work with his team-mates and was welcomed back into the squad with a traditional “tunnel of fire”.
Despite the positive signs, Brazil’s coaching staff are continuing to take a cautious approach as the 34-year-old remains a doubt for the upcoming Group C clash against Haiti.
Speaking at a press conference, Danilo explained why Neymar remains a key figure in Brazil’s plans.
“If you have a player like Neymar, the opponents become more tense and ask for help to mark him,” Danilo said.
“So, with two players marking him, someone from our team will be alone. This can help a lot. Just being on the field, he can unbalance the opponent.
“We need to deal with reality, of course. We hope he’s well and can help us. His quality has already been proven.”
Brazil head into their second group match under pressure after dropping points against Morocco in their tournament opener.
The five-time world champions currently sit third in Group C and need a positive result against Haiti to strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
However, Danilo warned against assuming Brazil will have an easy task against their opponents.
“Did you see how Cape Verde defended against Spain?” he said.
“It’s a matter of giving your all for every ball, defending the result and playing beautifully.
“Brazil needs to enter the game tactically well-positioned, play a safe game, control the match and seek victory.
“But we can’t think about a blowout. It’s disrespectful. We can’t expect to have the ball at our feet, we have to show that we want the result.”
Danilo’s comments reflect the cautious mood within the Brazil camp as Carlo Ancelotti’s side prepare for a crucial encounter while continuing to monitor Neymar’s fitness.
The Selecao are hoping their star forward can soon return to action and provide the attacking spark they have missed since the start of the tournament.
