Neymar has two months to show he is ready for the 2026 World Cup, says Ancelotti

Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti has left open the possibility that Neymar could earn a place in his 26-man squad for this year’s World Cup. He said the attacker has two months to prove he has the required qualities. Ancelotti has consistently insisted Neymar will come into contention when he is fully fit, but the forward was left out of Brazil’s squad for last month’s warm-up games against France and Croatia.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals, has not played for the national team since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023 and has struggled to maintain a consistent run of games since returning to Santos last year. Brazil’s 2-1 defeat by France in Boston prompted fans to chant Neymar’s name, but Ancelotti dismissed the reaction at the time, saying attention should focus on the selected players.

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However, now the Italian has suggested that the Santos forward will remain part of his thinking as Brazil assesses their options ahead of the World Cup, which takes place in North America and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

«He is a great talent and it is normal that people think he can help us win the next World Cup,» Ancelotti said in an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe.

“He is currently being evaluated by the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation), by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play at the next World Cup.

«After his knee injury, Neymar has made a good comeback; he is scoring goals. He must continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He is on the right track.»

Brazil is in Group C at the World Cup alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland and starts its campaign on June 13 at the New Jersey Stadium.

Published on April 11, 2026