Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti is giving Neymar the next six months to prove he belongs in Brazil’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ancelotti turned heads when he did not call up the Barcelona legend for the fourth consecutive international window since taking charge of the Seleção. The snub has now extended Neymar’s two-year absence from representing Brazil.
Recurring injury issues forced the forward to take a step back from the national team. Neymar has since returned to the pitch for Santos, but his national team boss remained unconvinced of his fitness, so much so that Ancelotti laid down a challenge for the Seleção’s all-time leading goalscorer.
“I thought Neymar was just a topic in Brazil, but I see it’s a global issue,” Ancelotti said ahead of his side’s clash with Tunisia. “Fortunately, he recovered from his injury. Now he has six months to play.
“Neymar is on the list of players who could be at the World Cup. Now he has six months to make the final list. We just have to observe him and other players to avoid making mistakes in the final selection.”
The 33-year-old has until May to prove his fitness to Ancelotti, or else he could miss out on what would likely be his final opportunity to represent his country on world football’s biggest stage.
