Neymar returned to Santos’ starting XI last weekend after nearly two months out with yet another injury. Physically short of his best, the forward struggled to make an impact — and his shaky form, with the World Cup fast approaching, became one of the main talking points on the latest episode of Numbers Don’t Lie on CBS Sports Golazo and Sofascore.
Host Chris Wittyngham and analyst Michael Lahoud took a deep dive into the subject. On pure talent alone, Neymar would be a lock for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the tournament in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Watch down below!
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“These are two separate things: Neymar’s availability and his aura. He’s Neymar. He has to be in the team,” said Lahoud when quizzed by Wittyngham about the player’s fitness issues.
Having only just returned to action, Neymar was left out of Brazil’s squad for the November international window. Numbers Don’t Lie also revisited Ancelotti’s recent comments, in which the coach cited medical issues as the main reason behind the forward’s omission.
“But let’s talk about why he should still be on that plane to the US. For starters, he’s Brazil’s all-time top scorer,” pointed out Wittyngham, noting Neymar’s 79 goals — two more than Pelé.
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Lahoud added that three of the top five Brazilian goalscorers were World Cup winners (Pelé, Romário and Ronaldo), while “the other one should have been” (Zico from the iconic 1982 side).
“Being part of that list shows he’s an elite player,” he said.
The numbers back Neymar
To further prove the point, Wittyngham reminded viewers why the show is called Numbers Don’t Lie: Brazil’s record with Neymar on the pitch is significantly better than without him.
Since 2016, Brazil have averaged 2.46 points per match with Neymar playing, compared to 1.80 when he’s absent. The pattern holds for wins, goals scored and unbeaten runs.…
“Without him, Brazil look like an ordinary side,” said Wittyngham, prompting Lahoud to joke:
“You’re missing one stat — XG. Not expected goals, but expected Ginga. Without Neymar, there’s no Ginga.”
Neymar’s injury woes
But for that “beautiful football” to shine through, fitness is key — something Neymar has lacked since 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury against Uruguay. The CBS Sports Golazo duo highlighted the steep decline of the 33-year-old, who has missed over 100 matches since then.
“You can’t miss 17 games a season if you want to make it to a World Cup,” stressed Lahoud
Wittyngham then asked whether Neymar has reached a stage in his career where injuries prevent him from producing at the same level.
“When Neymar’s on the pitch, he can do things others can only dream of. And you see that in his goals and assists,” said Lahoud, pointing out that João Pedro and Vinícius Júnior don’t have that same magic.
“But for that to happen, he needs to stay fit.”
Estêvão: the next Neymar?
If Neymar doesn’t make the World Cup, Numbers Don’t Lie offered a potential successor: Chelsea’s Estêvão.
“It’s not all doom and gloom for Brazil fans. He could be the one to take up that mantle,” said Lahoud. “Looking at his numbers, what stands out are his expected assists and successful dribbles — and that’s without playing every game or having big-name teammates like Cole Palmer.”
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“As he gets more minutes, the sky’s the limit,” he added.
Wittyngham cautioned that scoring in friendlies is one thing; performing under World Cup pressure is another — especially for an 18-year-old expected to replace Neymar.
Lahoud countered, of course, with more stats — comparing Estêvão’s record to Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. Since making his senior Brazil debut in September 2024, the former Palmeiras starlet’s numbers are almost on par with, or even better than, the Real Madrid duo’s.
For instance, Estêvão averages one goal every 100 minutes, compared to Rodrygo’s 191 and Vinícius’ 281.
“If I’m Carlo Ancelotti — and I know you watch Numbers Don’t Lie, Carlo — then listen up: Estêvão is both the present and the future of Brazil,” Lahoud concluded.