Neymar to return to Barcelona after World Cup qualifying

Brazil's Neymar poses with his son after winning the gold medal match at Rio 2016. (Leo Correa/AP)

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.

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