Ancelotti Addresses Neymar’s World Cup Chances After Leaving Him Out of Brazil Squad

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti explained why Neymar was not included in the latest Brazil National Team squad for the friendlies against France and Croatia, but made it clear that the forward could still be part of the 2026 World Cup.

The latest squad announcement from the Brazil National Team for the March FIFA international window sparked plenty of discussion, particularly due to the absence of Neymar. The Santos forward, who remains the all-time leading scorer for Brazil, was not included in the list revealed by Carlo Ancelotti for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia.

Despite the surprise omission, the Italian manager clarified that the decision was not related to the player’s talent but rather his current physical condition. Speaking during a press conference, Ancelotti emphasized that the veteran attacker is still not fully fit to compete at the highest level with the national team.

Neymar’s Physical Condition Raises Concerns

The Brazil coach explained that leaving Neymar out of the squad was purely a physical assessment. According to Carlo Ancelotti, the forward has not yet fully recovered his peak form after the injuries that have affected him in recent years.

For the Italian manager, the priority is selecting players who are at their best physically. While he acknowledged the quality of the Santos star, he also stressed that the player must continue working to regain full fitness.

Ancelotti even traveled recently to watch a Santos match in the Brazilian league in hopes of evaluating the forward in person. However, Neymar did not play in that game due to muscular fatigue, preventing the coach from observing him directly.

Even so, the national team staff will continue monitoring the player closely in the coming weeks as he works toward regaining form.

Ancelotti Still Leaves the Door Open

Despite his absence from the current squad, Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that Neymar still has a chance to be included in Brazil’s final roster for the 2026 World Cup. The coach explained that the final decision will depend on the player’s physical condition and performances in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, the current squad features a mix of experienced players and rising stars who are performing well for their clubs. In attack, names such as Vinícius Jr. from Real Madrid, Raphinha from Barcelona, Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal, and João Pedro from Chelsea stand out.

Other forwards included in the squad are Matheus Cunha of Manchester United, Igor Thiago of Brentford, and young talent Endrick, currently playing for Lyon after joining from Real Madrid.

In midfield, experienced figures like Casemiro of Manchester United and Fabinho of Al Ittihad provide leadership, while the defensive line includes established names such as Marquinhos of PSG and Gabriel Magalhães of Arsenal.

The Seleção will face France and Croatia in two international friendlies as part of their preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Neymar continues working to regain his best form and keep alive the possibility of representing Brazil on football’s biggest stage once again.