Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has been sidelined since October 2023 after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee. Initially expected to return during the September international window, he was ultimately left out of Brazil’s squad for qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia as coach Carlo Ancelotti decided he wasn’t ready.
Despite the setback, Ancelotti still sees Neymar as a key figure for Brazil at next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico but under one strict condition: Neymar must prove his physical fitness before the tournament begins.
Neymar Return?
“I’m not looking at how Neymar plays everyone knows his talent,” Ancelotti explained. “In modern football, talent only works if you’re physically fit. If Neymar reaches peak condition, he will have no problem with the national team. Everyone wants him ready for the World Cup. I told him, ‘You have time to prepare so you can help the team in the World Cup.’”
While Neymar has played both on the wing and as a central playmaker in the past, Ancelotti made it clear that the winger role is no longer an option.
“I spoke to him when he visited us before the Paraguay match in June,” Ancelotti said. “Everything is clear he has to play centrally. Either as an attacking midfielder or as a striker. In today’s football, wide players need greater physicality, and that’s not ideal for him. But he can still be decisive through the middle.”
Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup in June but ended their campaign on a disappointing note, losing 1-0 to Bolivia and finishing fifth in the standings.
Looking ahead, Ancelotti says he is fully committed to leading Brazil at the tournament and is even open to extending his stay beyond his current one-year deal.
“Preparing for the World Cup with Brazil is something truly special,” he said. “I signed for one year, but after the World Cup everything is open. If the federation wants me to continue, I’d be happy to stay maybe even until 2030. My family is happy here, and so am I.”
