Dhaka, May 9 -- Lionel Messi has said Neymar remains among football's elite and expressed hope that the Brazil forward will recover in time for next month's FIFA World Cup.

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer, has been sidelined from international duty since October 2023 after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. His injury troubles have persisted since returning to his boyhood club Santos, restricting him to 12 appearances across all competitions this year, following 28 matches in 2025.

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"We want the best players to be there [at the World Cup], and Neymar, regardless of his form, will always be one of them," Messi said on th...