Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has given Santos star Neymar a glimmer of hope, suggesting that his participation in the 2026 World Cup is still possible, provided he maintains his current form and fitness.
Neymar has not played for the Seleção since October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury during a match against Uruguay. Since then, he has been working to regain full fitness.
Since returning to Santos in early 2025, the 34-year-old has been striving to rediscover his form and competitive edge in time for the 2026 World Cup, which he considers his “final appearance” in the Brazilian jersey.
Over the past few months, Ancelotti has refused to call up Neymar due to his physical condition and lack of consistency, with some reports even suggesting the player is completely out of the Italian coach’s plans for the tournament.
Ancelotti spoke with France Football, confirming that the former Barcelona star has a strong chance of joining his country for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He said, “Neymar is an exceptional talent, and it’s natural for people to think he can help us win the World Cup.”
He added, “He is being evaluated by the Brazilian Football Confederation and by me personally, and he still has two months to prove he is fully fit.”
He continued, “I will only call up players who are physically ready. Neymar is recovering well from his knee injury and has started scoring goals again. He needs to maintain this rhythm; he is heading in the right direction.”
It’s worth noting that Neymar has repeatedly stressed that he will not give up and will continue working hard to convince Ancelotti to include him in the squad. Now, the legendary Real Madrid coach has opened the door, reviving the player’s dreams of representing his country next June.
