It’s been nearly three years since former FC Barcelona star Neymar last suited up for the Brazilian national team.
The nation’s all-time leading scorer (79) sustained an ACL injury with the national team in October 2023, and he’s dealt with multiple injuries since, including a major knee ailment in December.
That’s why it wasn’t much of a surprise to see coach Carlo Ancelotti snub him from the team’s last couple of friendly matches vs. France and Croatia, and why he might not make the final cut for the FIFA World Cup.
However, in an interview with French outlet L’Equipe, the former Real Madrid boss didn’t shut the door on potentially giving him the nod.
Carlo Ancelotti won’t rule out Neymar for the World Cup
“He’s currently being evaluated by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup,” the coach said (h/t The Athletic).
Neymar has looked sharp for Santos since returning from injury, scoring three goals in four matches for the Brazilian side. Ancelotti acknowledged that his recent form will factor in whether he gets a chance to keep adding to his tally with the national team.
“I’m going to call up the players who are physically ready,” Ancelotti added. “After his knee injury (in December), Neymar has come back well; he’s scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.”
While not as stacked as it used to be, the Brazilian national team still has a plethora of offensive talent.
Even with Rodrygo out with an injury, they still have Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Raphinha, Joao Pedro and Gabriel Martinelli, just to name a few, so it won’t be easy to make the cut.
That said, Neymar is a beloved and respected figure for the national team, and they could use a veteran leader like him. It won’t be an easy decision to make, but continuing to score more and staying on the pitch will clearly be the best way to endear himself to Ancelotti.