Is Japan Neymar's favorite 'prey'?

Japan is the opponent Neymar has scored against the most while playing for Brazil, raising high expectations for the "Selecao" ahead of the 2026 World Cup knockout round.

Neymar is likely to be a strategic player on the bench for coach Ancelotti. Photo: Reuters .

After making his return in the victory against Scotland in the final group stage match, Neymar is likely to continue starting on the bench when Brazil faces Japan in the knockout round of the 2026 World Cup. However, the 34-year-old striker is still considered a crucial strategic asset for coach Carlo Ancelotti thanks to his special affinity for Asian teams.

During his career with the Brazilian national team, Neymar scored a total of 79 goals. Notably, 9 of those goals were scored against Japan , more than against any other opponent he faced at the national team level.

The number 10 star began his scoring spree against Japan with a brace in a 4-0 friendly win in 2012. A year later, he scored again to help Brazil win 3-0 at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

The pinnacle was his explosive performance in a 2014 friendly match when Neymar single-handedly scored all four goals in a 4-0 victory. The striker, born in 1992, went on to score against the "Samurai Blue" twice more in friendly matches in 2017 and 2022, bringing his total number of goals against this opponent to nine.

You may also like

Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing his "limited edition" boots, missed all three of his shots and immediately... threw them in the corner.Unable to score in the first 45 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo surprisingly changed into his custom-designed yellow boots after halftime in the 0-0 draw against Colombia in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

History of confrontations between Germany and Paraguay: The undefeated German team awaits a highly anticipated rematch.The head-to-head history between Germany and Paraguay favors the European side. The German team is undefeated in their two previous encounters with Paraguay, including a 1-0 victory at the 2002 World Cup.

Germany vs Paraguay football prediction: A one-sided victory, what does Opta predict?In its football prediction for Germany vs Paraguay, the Opta supercomputer predicts that Germany is the strongest contender to advance to the round of 16, with a winning probability more than double that of their opponent.

After being sidelined due to a calf injury, Neymar returned in the second half of the match against Scotland. Although not yet in peak physical condition, he is still expected to make a difference if given the chance to play against Japan.

Not only does Neymar boast an impressive goal-scoring record against his rivals, but he also holds the record for the greatest goalscorer in the history of the Brazilian national team with 79 goals in 129 matches, surpassing Pele (77 goals) and Ronaldo Nazario (62 goals).

Furthermore, Neymar has also equaled the record of Pele, Ronaldo, and Cafu by participating in four World Cups. With his knack for scoring against Japan, the Brazilian star is expected to continue to be a game-changer in the "Selecao's" quest to win the 2026 World Cup.

United States - Vietnam: Don't miss

Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment in high technology.On the morning of June 26th, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung received Mr. Jeff Place, Supply Chain Director of Coherent Group (USA). During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment, especially in high-tech, innovation, and semiconductor industries.

Encourage U.S. businesses to expand investment in high-tech sectors.Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung said that Vietnam welcomes US businesses to continue expanding their operations in Vietnam, especially in high-tech industries and sectors with high added value.

Vietnam and the United States strengthen cooperation in addressing the consequences of war.VTV.vn - On June 22, General Secretary and President To Lam received Acting Secretary of the US Navy Hung Cao.

Neymar opens up about Messi: On the occasion of Messi's birthday on June 24th, Neymar made some noteworthy statements about his former Barcelona teammate.

Source: https://znews.vn/nhat-ban-la-con-moi-ua-thich-cua-neymar-post1663815.html