Neymar heading back to Barcelona after World Cup qualifiers
Brazil’s Neymar cries as he kneels down to celebrate with teammate goalkeeper Weverton after scoring the decisive penalty kick during the final match of the men’s Olympic football tournament between Brazil and Germany at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday Aug. 20, 2016. Brazil won the gold medal on a penalty shootout. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona says that Neymar won’t rejoin the team until after he plays in Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
That means that Neymar will miss Sunday’s Spanish league match at Athletic Bilbao.
Brazil plays Ecuador in Quito on Sept. 1 and five days later it hosts Colombia in Manaus.
On Saturday, Neymar scored the decisive penalty in a shootout to help Brazil beat Germany for its first Olympic gold medal in men’s football.
Despite the striker’s absence, Barcelona has won all three of its matches this season.
