Brazil vs Switzerland on Monday afternoon in a meeting between two winners from the opening round of Group G games.

Match Details:

• Location: Doha, Qatar
• Stadium: Stadium 974
• Date: Monday 28 November
• Kick-off Time: 9:30 PM IST
• Watch: Sports 18/HD, Jio Cinema App

Brazil vs Switzerland: Match Preview:

For the final half an hour or so of their World Cup opener, Brazil clicked into gear against Serbia.

O voo do pombo! 👀🐦

PRUUUU!!!!

📷: Lucas Figueiredo / CBF pic.twitter.com/DFh6VkB8jb

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) November 24, 2022

While their rather laboured first-half performance might give hope to the other contenders in Qatar, the Selecao remain the team to beat in the eyes of many, and sung in attack during the closing stages.

As ever, however, things aren't simple. Star man Neymar has been ruled out of the group stages, along with the increasingly important Danilo with ankle injuries.

Breel Embolo, who was born in Cameroon, didn't celebrate after opening the scoring against them for Switzerland 🤝 pic.twitter.com/pqmE1bcUJX

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 24, 2022

Certainly weakened for their second group game, opponents Switzerland should take heart. A squad tipped as perhaps being the best in their country's history, they are seasoned veterans at this level and drew 1-1 with Brazil four years ago.

Team News:

Brazil:

A note of reticence from an otherwise serene evening came in the ugly form of Neymar's swollen ankle. Brazil's manager Tite was quick to rapidly downplay the severity of the injury. "Don't worry, Neymar will play in the World Cup," he cautioned. "I didn't see Neymar was injured – the capacity he has to overcome it tricked even me."

🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

📷: Lucas Figueiredo / CBF pic.twitter.com/U66WdAO64H

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) November 24, 2022

However, it seems as though Brazil will have to do without their talisman for the remainder of the group stages.

Danilo also appeared to be suffering some discomfort but played the full 90 minutes given Tite had used all five substitutions by that point.

Switzerland:

Renato Steffen was the only member of Switzerland's squad that didn't play any part in the win against Cameroon.

A special day for Breel Embolo as he comes up against the country of his birth. He moved to Switzerland as a child and made his Nati debut at age 18 in 2015.

After many injuries, he's in the form of his career for club and country. Will be so crucial for us.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/cnmJ6uwn18

— Craig King – 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘀EN (@FootballSwissEN) November 24, 2022

The FC Lugano forward has been struggling with muscle tension in his upper body and is a doubt for the glitzy clash against Brazil.

Brazil vs Switzerland: Head to Head:

Brazil have a slight edge over Switzerland and have won three out of the nine matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Switzerland's two victories.

The two previous matches between Brazil and Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup have ended in draws – a 2-2 scoreline in 1950 followed by a 1-1 stalemate in 2018.

O brabo do Canarinho deu aquele último apoio aos jogadores! Estamos a caminho do Lusail Stadium!

Bora, Brasil!!! pic.twitter.com/2PJiOGDVKt

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) November 24, 2022

After failing to win their last five matches against Brazil, Switzerland have won two of their last four encounters against the Selecao in all competitions.

Predicted Line-ups:

Brazil Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Sandro; Fred, Casemiro; Raphinha, Paqueta, Vinicius; Richarlison.
Bench: Ederson, Weverton, Danilo, Bremer, Alves, Telles, Fabinho, Guimaraes, Everton, Antony, Rodrygo, Martinelli, Pedro, Jesus.

Switzerland Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo.
Bench: Omlin, Kobel, Kohn, Comert, Schar, Zakaria, Frei, Jashari, Fernandes, Aebischer, Rieder, Fassnacht, Seferovic, Okafor.

BRA vs SWI: Dream11 Predictions:

For more Brazil vs Switzerland news, follow Sportz Point.

Various international women's football players have cemented themselves in history books by achieving remarkable records. At the forefront is Canada's Christine Sinclair, an iconic figure in women's football

This collection of players and their impressive accomplishments underscore the development of women's football and the extraordinary talent that has emerged within the sport over the years. Let’s take a closer look at these stellar performers

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Babra Bander: Zambia- 7 

From the streets of Lusaka to the global stage, Barbra Banda’s journey is a testament to determination and raw talent. Born in Zambia’s capital, Banda started playing football at the tender age of seven. But her early sporting prowess wasn’t confined to just football.

Inspired by renowned Zambian boxer Catherine Phiri, Banda also dabbled in boxing at 14, quickly making a name for herself. She dominated the amateur scene, and after winning every bout and seeing other fighters hesitant to face her, Banda turned professional, where she won all five of her matches. However, football eventually took center stage in her life.

In October 2018, Banda signed with Spain's first division club, EDF Logroño, becoming the first Zambian woman to play football in Europe. Her career continued to soar when, in March 2024, she joined the Orlando Pride in the United States, signing a four-year contract that would keep her with the club until 2027.

Her impact on the international stage began early. Banda played for Zambia’s U-17 women’s team at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, turning 14 during the tournament. Two years later, on March 6, 2016, she made her senior team debut in a Women’s Nations Cup qualifier against Namibia.

The peak of her career came at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Banda captained the Zambian national team as they made their debut appearance at the prestigious tournament. She became the first woman to score consecutive hat-tricks in Olympic history, netting three goals in a 3-10 loss to the Netherlands, she scored another three in a 4-4 draw against China. These performances also made her the first woman to score two hat-tricks in a single Olympic tournament.

Read Also: I didn't set a date or a deadline": Lionel Messi hints at retirement after hat-trick against BoliviaFIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Michelle Akers: United States of America- 7

🇺🇸 @MichelleAkers10
👕 No10 in 1999, 1995 and 1991

All-time #FIFAWWC record
Games: 13
Goals: 12 pic.twitter.com/XlnsSkLXAe

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 1, 2024

The name Michelle Akers is synonymous with U.S. women’s soccer dominance. With seven career hat-tricks, Akers helped the U.S. win the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup, leading the tournament with 10 goals, including five in a single game.

Her leading the team was crucial to the U.S. women's team securing its first-ever world title, and she later played a vital role in the 1999 World Cup and 1996 Olympics victories. 

Akers was also the lead scorer in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in China in 1991. The U.S. women's team defeated Norway 2–1 in the final with Akers scoring both goals.

Ali Al-Biski: Libya - 7

Ali Al-Biski, a former Libyan footballer, played as a striker and holds the record as Libya's all-time top scorer despite the nation’s limited participation in FIFA events during his time. He led the Libyan Premier League in scoring twice—first in 1965 with Al-Madina SC, and again in 1968 with Al Ahli Tripoli. He recorded seven hat-tricks for the national team.

Pelé: Brazil - 7

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known as Pelé, was a Brazilian forward and a football icon, widely hailed as one of the greatest players in history. With a Guinness World Record for 1,279 goals in 1,363 games (including friendlies), Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the IOC in 1999 and featured in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century. He debuted for Santos at 15 and for Brazil at 16, winning three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scoring seven hat-tricks for Brazil.

Sándor Kocsis: Hungary - 7

Sándor Kocsis, a Hungarian striker, played for Ferencvárosi TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, and FC Barcelona. After relocating to Spain post-1956 Hungarian Revolution, Kocsis joined Barcelona’s squad. He led the 1954 World Cup with a record 11 goals, scoring 23 times for Hungary that year—a single-year record. Kocsis was also the first player to achieve two hat-tricks in a World Cup.

Cristiane: Brazil- 8

Brazilian forward Cristiane stands alongside the greats, boasting eight hat-tricks throughout her career. A prolific goal scorer, she played a key role in Brazil's silver medal triumphs at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Cristiane has participated in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympics, with her most recent hat-trick coming in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Jamaica at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ali Daei: Iran - 8

Iranian striker and former national team captain, Ali Daei, was renowned as the world’s top scorer in official internationals per the IFFHS, netting 20 goals in 1996. During the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, he scored nine goals over 17 matches, amassing 38 goals in 52 appearances by that time. In 2004, he became the first male to score 100 international goals, reaching 102 with a four-goal game against Laos.

Gerd Müller: Germany - 8

Gerd Müller, a prolific German striker known for his precision in the penalty area, is considered one of football’s top scorers. With West Germany, he scored 68 goals in 62 games. For Bayern Munich, he scored 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches and 65 goals in 74 European games, holding a league scoring record. Müller’s eight hat-tricks include two in the 1970 World Cup.

Poul Nielsen: Denmark - 8

Danish striker Poul Nielsen scored 52 goals in 38 games, sharing Denmark’s top-scoring record. He earned a silver medal at the 1912 Olympics and led Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB) to six Danish championships. Scoring eight hat-tricks in international play, Nielsen was an iconic figure for Denmark until his death in 1962.

Abby Wambach: United States of America- 8

Mary Abigail Wambach, born on June 2, 1980, is a retired American soccer player, coach, and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. A six-time recipient of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, Wambach was a key player for the U.S. women’s national team from 2003 to 2015.

She earned her first international cap in 2001 and, as a forward, became the highest all-time goal scorer for the U.S. national team. Globally, she ranks second in international goals for both men and women with 184 goals, trailing only Canada's Christine Sinclair.

Wambach competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: the 2003 edition in the U.S., the 2007 event in China, the 2011 tournament in Germany, and the 2015 competition in Canada. She also represented the U.S. in the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics.

Throughout these five major international tournaments, Wambach played 30 matches and netted 22 goals. She helped her team secure two Olympic gold medals, third-place finishes twice at the Women's World Cup, a second-place finish in 2011, and ultimately, a World Cup victory in 2015.

Read Also: FIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Carli Lloyd: United States of America- 9

Carli Lloyd is another legend of international football, having represented the U.S. from 2012 to 2021. Over her remarkable career, she earned two Olympic gold medals (in 2008 and 2012) and won two FIFA Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. In addition, she was named FIFA Player of the Year twice, in 2015 and 2016, and competed in four Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021).

Lloyd’s capacity for rising to the occasion was evident when she scored the decisive goals in the gold medal matches of both the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She was also instrumental in the U.S. clinching World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, she also secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the US finished as runners-up.

Ali Mabkhout: UAE - 9

Ali Mabkhout, a forward for Al Nasr and the UAE national team, debuted with Al Jazira in 2009. A pivotal figure in UAE’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal win over Australia, he became UAE’s top scorer on October 10, 2019, with a hat-trick against Indonesia in a 5-0 victory.

Sven Rydell: Sweden- 9

Swedish striker Sven Rydell scored 49 goals in 43 matches, a record that stood for over 80 years until broken by Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2014. Rydell’s international career included a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympics, and he holds the Swedish record of nine international hat-tricks.

Vivian Woodward: England - 10

Vivian Woodward, an English forward, starred from the early 1900s to World War I, playing for Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. As Great Britain’s captain, he won gold at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics, recording six hat-tricks for England amateurs and four for England’s national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal- 10

At the age of 18, Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003. At UEFA Euro 2004, he scored his first international goal in a 2–1 group stage loss to Greece in his eighth international appearance.

In 2016, Ronaldo led Portugal to their first-ever trophy at the UEFA Euro 2016, although he was subbed off in the 25th minute in the final against hosts France.He received the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer.

In the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, in a 3–3 draw against Spain Cristiano Ronaldo became the first male player to score 10 hat-tricks for a national team on 12 October 2021 in Portugal's 5–0 win against Luxembourg, breaking Sven Rydell's record.

Lionel Messi:Argentina -10

Lionel Messi debuted for Argentina’s U20 team in 2004 and won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. His senior debut came in 2005 at 18. In 2021, he ended Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought with a Copa América win. On October 15, 2024, Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Bolivia.

Christine Sinclair: Canada- 11

Christine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). From 2000 until her international retirement in 2023, she was a key member of the Canadian national team. 

Sinclair is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, CONCACAF champion, and has won the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award 14 times. She holds the world record for the most international goals scored by any player, male or female, with 190 goals and is among the most-capped players in international soccer, with 331 appearances.

In a career spanning more than two decades with the senior national team, Sinclair has competed in six FIFA Women's World Cups and four Olympic Football Tournaments, leading her team to bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, and to gold in 2020.

She is one of only three players to score in five different World Cup tournaments, alongside Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2022, Sinclair was honored with the Best FIFA Special Award for her achievement as the world’s top goal scorer.

Notably, Sinclair scored her eleventh international hat-trick during a 2012 Olympic match against the United States, netting all three of Canada’s goals in a 3–4 loss.

Read Also: Most valuable Spanish players in history: Yamal goes past Rodri

Alex Morgan: United States of America- 12 

Alexandra Patricia Morgan, born on July 2, 1989, is a retired American professional soccer player who last played as a striker for San Diego Wave FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she served as captain, as well as for the United States national team. She co-captained the U.S. national team with Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe from 2018 to 2020, and later with Lindsay Horan in 2023.

Morgan was the first overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash, where she made her professional debut and contributed to the team's league championship win. At 22, she was the youngest player on the U.S. national team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the team finished as runner-up.

During the 2012 London Olympics, Morgan scored the decisive goal in the 123rd minute of the semi-final against Canada. She ended 2012 with 28 goals and 21 assists, becoming the second American woman, after Mia Hamm, to record 20 goals and 20 assists in a single year. This achievement made her the sixth and youngest U.S. player to reach 20 goals in one season. Morgan was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year and became a FIFA World Player of the Year finalist.

She played a crucial role in the U.S. team's victories at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups, earning a spot on the Dream Team in both tournaments and winning the Silver Boot in 2019. Morgan recorded her eleventh international hat-trick with five goals on 11 June 2019 in the United States 13–0 victory over Thailand in the 2019 World

Her record-breaking twelfth international hat-trick came in 2021 against Paraguay in a game where the United States dominated and won 8-0

FIFA published the latest international rankings on 24 October 2024 after the international break in October 2024. The 2022 World Champions Argentina remains on top of the list. The Indian National Football team climbed up to 125th from their 126th position in the previous rankings published on 19 September 2024. 

FIFA Rankings: Top 10 (24 October 2024)

The World Champions Argentina continues to be in the 1st position even though they were handed over a -5.52 points deduction. Argentina ended the game against Venezuela in a 1-1 draw and had a majestic 6-0 win over Bolivia during this international break. 

Among the top 10, Brazil received the most points in this latest rankings as they received +12.35 points in total but they remain in the 5th position. Brazil had an away win against Chile by 2-1 and thrashed Peru by 4-0 on home soil. 

Colombia received the most points deduction in the top 10 teams and they have dropped to 10th after a -14.35 points deduction. However, Colombia lost 0-1 against Bolivia in an away match but had a 4-0 victory at home against Chile. 

Top 10

Indian National Football Team 

India faced a drop in the rankings published on 19 September 2024 as they slipped to 126th position from their previous 124th. However, India has now climbed up to the 125th position with +0.26 points received.

India was set to participate in a series of tri-nation friendlies against Vietnam and Lebanon during the international break in October 2024 but Lebanon withdrew due to political unrest in their country. India faced Vietnam on 12 October 2024 and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. 

Things we lob to see 😍

Farukh deftly lobs it over the keeper to equalise for India against Vietnam! ✨

Catch all the action from #VIEIND LIVE on #FanCode!#BlueTigers @IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/xlDz1LPFKU

— FanCode (@FanCode) October 12, 2024

The Indian team is yet to win a game under new manager Manolo Marquez and their next outing is set to be against Malaysia in a friendly on 19 November 2024.

Both in international and club football, goals often steal the limelight but in most cases, the orchestration that creates the pathway of a goal is an assist from a teammate. Every player plays very less international matches compared to club games and that is why it is tougher to accumulate a huge number of goals and assists in international football.

There are some players whose longevity, creativity, and passion for the game let them enter the chart of the players with most assists in international football. Let's look at the list consisting of the top 10 players. 

10. David Beckham - 36 Assists

The British football sensation, David Beckham made his debut with the England national team in 1996 and made 115 appearances before retiring from international football in May 2013.

Beckham was the Ballon d'Or Runner-up in 1999 and he was named English Player of the Year in 2003. In 2008, the FA enlisted him in the English Football Hall of Fame.  

Along with 17 international goals, Beckham also made 36 assists which makes him 10th in the list. 

9. Mesut Ozil - 40 Assists

One of the greatest playmakers the game has ever witnessed, Mesut Ozil debuted in 2009 for the Germany national team. Ozil played in three world cups with Germany and won the coveted trophy in 2014. 

Ozil retired from international football as a form of protest after Germany crashed out of the group stage in the 2018 World Cup and the DFB President Grindel accused him of racism. However, Ozil won the German Player of the Year Award 5 times in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Before retiring, Ozil already made 92 appearances for Germany and had 40 assists by his name. 

8. Pele - 47 Assists*

Arguably one of the greatest footballers of all time, Pele debuted for the Brazil national team at the age of 16 in 1957 in a friendly against Argentina. He lifted three World Cups (formerly known as the Jules Rimet Trophy) for Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970 which is a Guinness record for the most World Cup wins by a single player.

The TIME named him as the greatest footballer of the 20th century and Reuters named him as the Greatest athlete of the century in 1999. 

According to some estimated data, Pele made 92 appearances for Brazil and he provided 47 assists before retiring from international football in 1977. 

7. Cristiano Ronaldo - 47 Assists

One of the most influential athletes of the 21st century and considered one of the greatest footballers ever, Cristiano Ronaldo debuted in the Portugal national team in 2003 and made a significant effect in Portuguese football for almost 22 years. 

Winning the EURO 2016 and UEFA Nations League 2018-19 for Portugal, the five-time Ballon winner established himself as the greatest Portuguese footballer of all-time.

Cristiano is now the captain of the national team and he has made 216 appearances for Portugal so far. He is the highest goalscorer ever in the history of international football as well with 133 goals by his name. Besides his brilliant goalscoring prowess, Ronaldo has also made 47 assists in international matches so far.

6. Kevin De Bruyne - 49 Assists

Kevin De Bruyne is one of the finest midfielders of this generation for his exquisite playmaking ability and skillful display on the pitch. He is considered one of the greatest Belgian footballers ever and he was a very crucial part of the famous Golden Generation of Belgium. 

He was a memorable part of the Belgium squad that finished third in the 2018 World Cup and was included in the official 2018 WC Dream Team.

The 33-year-old midfielder made his Belgium senior team debut in 2010 and has made 107 appearances so far. During this journey, De Bruyne has provided 49 assists as of now.  

5. Sandor Kocsis - 50 Assists*

The Hungarian forward Sandor Peter Kocsis stands fifth on the list. Kocsis debuted for the Hungary national team in 1948 at the age of 18 and played almost 70 matches before retiring in 1966. 

Kocsis was the highest goalscorer in the 1954 World Cup with 11 goals including two hat-tricks. He also scored 6 goals for the Hungary national team in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and led them to win the Gold medal.

According to estimated data sources, Sandor Kocsis scored 75 goals for the national team and he also made 50 assists in international football.

4. Ferenc Puskás - 53 Assists*

Another Hungarian, and probably the greatest Hungarian footballer ever, Ferenc Puskás made his debut for the Hungary national team in 1945. He played 85 games for the national team and scored 84 goals. 

Puskás was another crucial part of the Hungary team that won the Gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as he scored 4 goals in that tournament. Puskás also scored 4 goals in the 1954 World Cup including the opening goal in the final but Hungary lost to West Germany by 2-3. 

Puskás also played for the Spain national team for 4 times. He was named European Player of the 20th Century by L'Equipe. 

Before retiring from football in 1966, Puskás had 53 assists by his name. 

3. Lionel Messi - 57 Assists

Arguably considered the greatest footballer ever, Lionel Messi is both one of the best goalscorers and playmakers to ever grace the game. Debuting in 2005, Lionel Messi has made 189 appearances for the Argentina national team so far. 

Messi's greatest honour with the national team came in 2022 when he led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, and he was named the Best Player of the Tournament. Messi is the only player to win two Golden Ball awards in 2014 and 2022. 

The record 8-time Ballon winner also won two Copa Americas with Argentina, consecutively in 2021 and 2024. 

With 112 goals for the national team, he also made 57 assists in international games and he will surely surpass the toppers of the list in his remaining appearances for Argentina. 

2. Neymar Jr. - 58 Assists

The greatest Brazilian footballer of this generation, Neymar Jr. is another forward whose display is not only exquisite in goalscoring but also in playmaking. 

Neymar Jr. made his debut with the Brazilian national team in 2010 and won the Golden Ball for being selected as the best player of the tournament in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph in 2013. He scored 4 goals and made 2 assists in 5 matches in that tournament.

However, after suffering a horrendous injury in the 2014 World Cup, Neymar led the Brazil team to win the Olympics Gold on home soil in the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

Neymar is also the all-time highest goalscorer of Brazil's national football team with 79 goals by his name. Neymar is tied with the leader on this list with his 58 assists in 129 international appearances but he will surely clinch the top spot in his remaining career. 

1. Landon Donovan - 58 Assists

The USMNT footballing legend is the leader in this list which may shock some but does not demean his excellence. Landon Donovan is considered the greatest footballer the USMNT has ever had. Making his debut in 2000 for the USMNT, he made 157 appearances before retiring from international football in 2014. 

Landon Donovan appeared in 3 editions of the World Cup and scored 5 goals in 12 World Cup appearances. He also won 4 CONCACAF Gold Cups with USMNT in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2013. After his retirement, Donovan was named as the greatest-ever USMNT player by The Guardian.

Landon Donovan is still atop the list with 58 international assists by his name. 

NB: In case of starred (*) players, there are no authentic records, and their stats are mostly estimated by various sources. 

The history of the World Cup cannot be complete without mentioning Brazil with 5 trophies to their name the highest of any country they face a tough test when they travel to Chile in what is a must-win match for them. Questions have arisen as to how possible it would be for them to win the match without some key players who have been integral to the team.

Read Also: Venezuela vs Argentina FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Where and how to watch in India? Full Streaming Details

Brazil's Full Injury List

After losing four of their last five World Cup qualifiers, the five-time champions find themselves struggling with a string of poor performances. They currently sit in fifth place with 10 points, just ahead of Venezuela on goal difference. With only the top six teams guaranteed spots in the 2026 World Cup, their qualification is far from secure.

Read Also: India vs Vietnam FIFA Friendly: Here are everything you need to know

Brazil's coach Dorival had to make five changes to his squad for the upcoming match against Chile on Thursday. This was due to injuries suffered by key players: goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Bremer, Éder Militão, Guilherme Arana, and forward Vinicius Jr.

Read Also: Football facts: Brazil fails without Neymar! These stats prove that (sportzpoint.com)

How Well Can Brazil Cope With The Injuries to Key Players

Brazil will need to rely on their squad depth to cope without their injured players. In goal, Ederson from Manchester City will likely step up, bringing vast experience and quality. In defence, Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos are capable replacements, offering solidity.  Rodrygo and Raphinha will be key in the absence of Vinicius Jr. Brazil’s squad still boasts enough quality, creativity, and versatility to remain competitive. 

Neymar Jr., Brazil's highest goal scorer in international football last played for the National team back in October 2023 when they lost against Uruguay by 0-2 in the World Cup Qualification round. Post that, it has been 12 straight games where Neymar could not feature for his country due to injury. After another shocking 0-1 defeat against Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the question of Brazil's inability to perform without Neymar has been raised again. That is why in our football facts segment, we have come up with stats to prove that Brazil do not perform well without Neymar Jr.

Neymar's debut

Neymar debuted for Brazil's National team on Aug 10, 2010, as an 18-year-old teenager while playing for Santos Football Club. He impressed each and everyone with a goal in the 72nd minute of the game against the USA to seal a 2-0 victory for Brazil in the international friendly match. It looked like he was there for at least three or four years with the National side.

Read Also | Most Iconic Rivalries in European Football Leagues: History & Stats 

Neymar's journey for Brazil over the years

Since his debut, Neymar went on to become one of the World's most valuable footballers and joined clubs like FC Barcelona where he won everything in club football and later joined PSG for a record transfer fee in 2018. Though for those two clubs, Neymar always had someone like Messi or Suraez or even Kylian Mbappe to share the load of the team, he never had that for Brazil.

In 2014 FIFA World Cup, even though he was playing his first World Cup, Neymar was the hope for the Brazilians to bring their sixth title to home. But even after socirng four goals in the tournament and finishing joint-third top scorer of the competition, he could not take Brazil to the finals, after he was brutually injured in the quarter-final match against Colombia, where he had scored a goal as well. Neymar's absence proved costly for Brazil as they were humiliated by Germany in the semis with a 1-7 defeat.

Read Also | Breaking Down the Most Iconic Football Facts and Moments of All Time 

From a young age of 22, he was made the captain of the most successful international football team in footbal history and Neymar felt the pressure of bringinng the glory to his motherland. However, he could not be there for the team in Copa America 2015 Quarter-finals due to card issues and then missed the 2016 Copa America due to injury.

However, Neymar was able to lead Brazil to their first-ever Olympic Gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics at home. Neymar with four goals was tournament's joint second goal scorer. 

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Neymar was heading to World Cup as one of the highest goalscorers in Brazil's men's football history and was hoping to eliminate all the sorrows of 2014 and bring the glory to Brazil. Neymar scored 2 goals and assisted twice in the World Cup before Belgium elimiated them out of the tournament in the Quarter-finals.

Read Also | Statistical Overlook of Messi vs Ronaldo Debate: Who Is the G.O.A.T? 

Neymar was not named in the 2019 Copa America squad after he suffered an ankle ligament tear in the international friendly prior to the tournament.

The Copa America 2021 saw a fit Neymar on the pitch for Brazil but despite contributing five times (2 goals and 3 assists) in the tournament, they were beaten by Messi's Argentina in the penalty shootout in the final.

📊Neymar in Copa America 2021🇧🇷🏆

👕 6 Games
⚽️ 2 Goals
🅰️ 3 Assists🥈
🎯 5 G/A in 6 Games 🥈
🔑 22 Chance Create🥇
💥 9 Big Chances Create🥇
🏃‍♂️ 35 Successful Dribble🥇
👉🏻 74 Duels Won🥇
🤕 30 Fouls Won🥇
💯 Average Score 8.25🥈

🎖️ CA POTT
🎖️ CA TOTT

https://t.co/uOKn67skZd

— NEYMAR OPTA STATS 📊 (@neymaropta) May 29, 2024

Neymar's luck was not there with him again in the FIFA World Cup 2022, when he suffered an ankle injury in the first game against Serbia and missed the next two games. Though he came back to score once and assist once in the round of 16 game against South Korea, his goal against Croatia in the quarter-final could not come any handy as they were beaten in the Quarter-finals in the penalty shootout.

Post 2022 World Cup, Neymar played only four games for Brazil before he got injured with a cruciate ligament tear.

Neymar's international stats

In his 128 games so far, the Brazilian has scored a record 79 times for his country, which is a record for any Brazilian Men's football player. Along with that, he also assisted 59 times for his Brazilian teammates. 

Brazil's Stats Since Neymar Debuted

Now, since we have Neymar's journey and stats for Brazil, to discuss how Brazil have been depended on Neymar, we need Brazil's overall stat since he debuted and Brazil's stats when Neymar did not play.

So, till now, since Neymar's debut on August 10, 2010, Brazil have played 173 compettive matches including international friendlies, Copa America, World Cup qualifieres and World Cup matches. In those, 173 games Brazil won 114 times, lost 29 times and drawn 30 times. Remember this stat includes all the matches when Neymar played and also the matches he did not play.

Brazil's stats when Neymar plays

In the 128 games Neymar played for Brazil (123 starts, 5 subs), he won 93 games. Meantime, Brazil only lost 14 times during this time and drawn only 21 times. So, Brazil have a 72.65% winning rate whenever Neymar featured for them in last 14 years.

Brazil's stats when Neymar did not play

Brazil have always struggled to get going without their "Prince". Although they have players like Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr,, Richarlison, Raphinha and others, none could produce the results, Neymar prodcuded for the Selecao.

Since his debut, Neymar missed 45 games due to mostly injuries he suffered. In those 45 games, Brazil only won 21 games while lost 15 times and drawn 9 times. This means without Neymar, Brazil's win percentage drops to 46.66% which is nearly 25.99% less than when Neymar plays for them.

Brazil's stats whenever Neymar scored

Neymar's match winning skills is known to everyone. In his 128 games, Neymar scored in a stunning 60 games while scoring a record 79 goals for the senior team. In those 60 games, Brazil only lost 2 times and drawn thrice. That means Brazil won 55 out of 66 games whenever Neymar scored for them which sets a winning rate of 91.66%.

Only time Brazil found success without Neymar

The only time Brazil found sucess without Neymar, is when Brazil won the 2019 Copa America, their first trophy since 2013. They won their ninth Copa America title by beating Peru 3-1 in the final. Everton scored thrice for them, the most in the tournament while Jesus, Coutinho and Firmino scored twice throuhout the tournament. Dani Alves was the player of the tournament.

Conclusion

Though, Brazil won the 2019 Copa America title without having Neymar in their squad, it is quite proven that the Selecao have srtuglled to win without their best goalscorer on the field. Their win rate dropped nealry 26% when they Neymar did not featured for since his debut and this proves how important he has been for the national team and their history. With Neymar still having a few years left in him, do you feel Neymar would be able to bring the World Cup to Barzil again?