For years, Neymar has been the undisputed face of the Brazilian national team, donning the legendary No. 10 jersey with distinction. However, as Brazil embarks on its latest CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, they find themselves in a new era. With Neymar once again sidelined due to injury, the iconic number is up for grabs—and there are three strong candidates who could wear it: Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Raphinha, or another rising star.
With Brazil set to face Colombia on March 20 and Argentina on March 25, head coach Dorival Junior has had to make a crucial decision about who will inherit Neymar’s famous number for these high-stakes clashes.
Brazil’s current qualifying campaign has been a challenging one. After their disappointing quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup, the Seleção have struggled for consistency. They currently sit fifth in the CONMEBOL standings, a far cry from the dominant team fans have come to expect.
Dorival Junior, who took charge in early 2024, has been tasked with rejuvenating the squad. Since his appointment, 15 players have made their senior debuts, reflecting the ongoing transition. However, even with an abundance of attacking talent, the absence of the Santos star remains a massive void to fill.
Vinicius and Raphinha – Brazil’s new superstars?
Since winning The Best FIFA Men’s Player award last year, Vinicius has continued to establish himself as one of the world’s top forwards. Playing alongside Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid, Vinicius has already recorded 29 goal involvements this season and remains one of La Liga’s most dangerous attackers.
However, his performances for Brazil have been inconsistent. Despite his electrifying club form, he has yet to score in the current World Cup qualifying campaign and has managed just one assist in 550 minutes of action. Vinicius is undoubtedly a superstar, but with his struggles in a Brazil shirt, Dorival has looked at other options.
Another strong contender for the No. 10 was Barcelona’s Raphinha, who has been in sensational form for his club. He has already registered 45 goal involvements across all competitions in 2024-25, making him one of Europe’s most productive players.
His Champions League performances have been particularly outstanding, setting a new record for goals by a Brazilian in a single season (11). While he has been Brazil’s top scorer under Dorival Junior (4 goals), it wasn’t enough for him to retain the No. 10 shirt this time.
The new No. 10: Rodrygo takes the spotlight
While both Vinicius and Raphinha were worthy candidates, it was Rodrygo who was ultimately chosen to wear Neymar’s No. 10 jersey for the upcoming matches against Colombia and Argentina. Rodrygo has been a key figure at Real Madrid, contributing 12 goals and 8 assists this season. Despite speculation that he might lose his place following Mbappe’s arrival, he remains crucial for Los Blancos.
By wearing the No. 10 jersey, Rodrygo is stepping into the shoes of Brazilian greats like Pele, Zico, Ronaldinho, and Neymar. At just 24 years old, he already boasts two Champions League and two La Liga titles with Real Madrid, along with 31 caps and seven goals for Brazil.
