Dani Alves replaces Neymar as Brazil captain for 2019 Copa America

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Superstar Neymar has been replaced by his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Dani Alves as the captain of the Brazilian national team for the upcoming Copa America. The Latin American country's football federation, CBF, made the official announcement on Monday.

The CBF said, “The decision was communicated to Neymar by (coach) Tite on Saturday.”

Neymar, who was handed a three-match suspension for lashing out at a spectator following Paris Saint-Germain's shock defeat by Rennes in the French Cup final earlier this month, has recently joined his side's training as they are eyeing yet another continental crown.

Pierre Gasly (C) of France and Red Bull Racing meets Brazilian soccer superstars Neymar (R) and Dani Alves (L) before the F1 Grand Prix of Spain, in Barcelona, Spain, May 12, 2019. /VCG Photo

Eight-time winners Brazil face Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru in the group stage of the marquee football event, which gets underway on June 14. The hosts will play two friendlies against Qatar and Honduras before starting their Copa America campaign.

Twenty-seven-year-old Neymar missed the catastrophic 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat by Germany in 2014 due to injury after fracturing his back in the previous round and even though he recovered from an injury ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, his side suffered an exit in the knock out stage.

Neymar was named player of the tournament at the Confederations Cup as Brazil won the competition for a record fourth time in 2013.