Carlo Ancelotti will walk into the Brazilian squad announcement on Monday with a country looking over his shoulder and one burning question in the air of Rio de Janeiro: Neymar or no Neymar?
The 34-year-old striker is Brazil’s all-time top scorer but his place at the 2026 World Cup, which starts next month, is at stake after years of injuries and a disappointing return to Santos.
That sees Ancelotti weighing romance against the cold, practical demands of fitness as he lays out his intense blueprint for the record five-time champion.
«If you have to choose, you have to take many things into account,» Ancelotti said Reuters in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
«Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown. But he has had problems and is working hard on his recovery. He has improved a lot recently and is playing regularly. It is obviously not such an easy decision for me. We have to weigh the pros and cons carefully.»
Ancelotti was host Reuters at the Brazilian Football Federation headquarters in Rio, overlooking Barra da Tijuca, and spoke about the delicate selection round with the calm that has defined one of the most decorated managerial careers in football.
The Italian is the only coach to have won league titles in all five of Europe’s major leagues and has won a record five Champions League trophies as a manager, in addition to two as a player.
‘MUCH LOVED’
Yet few selection decisions will be taken apart like this. Teammates have publicly lobbied for Neymar’s inclusion, while supporters remain divided between affection and concern over whether his body can still keep up with his imagination.
«I know very well that Neymar is very loved, not only by the public but also by the players,» Ancelotti said.
«This is also a factor because we have to take into account the atmosphere that will surround Neymar’s call. It’s not like I will drop a bomb in the dressing room. He is very loved, he is very loved.»
«I think it’s normal for the players to give their opinions. I’m grateful to everyone who gave me advice; I thank you all. But ultimately I’m the right person to make this decision, the one best able to do it.»
Asked whether the players’ appeal had influenced him, Ancelotti said they only mattered in one respect: they underlined that Neymar would not disrupt the group.
For Ancelotti, the dressing room is not the problem. There is a circus out there.
«I don’t think the internal atmosphere will affect the team. The atmosphere is very positive, very pure, and whichever player is in the squad will remain positive and pure until the end,» Ancelotti said.
“But I have no control over the external atmosphere and what the media says.”
‘HIS FITNESS HAS IMPROVED’
The bigger question may be whether Neymar is still a good fit for football. Ancelotti wants four forwards who can run, press and track back, a demanding template for a player who has struggled to string together a run of games.
However, the Italian said Neymar had shown signs of progress.
“He has improved his fitness a lot in the last few games,” Ancelotti said.
«He has had some really good matches lately. His fitness has improved. He can maintain a high intensity in a match. But there are matches and matches…»
Ancelotti said the decision whether or not to select Neymar would be his.
«I have not been pressured by anyone to call up Neymar. I have complete autonomy,» he said. «The decision will be 100% professional. I will only take into account how he performs as a footballer. Nothing else.»
«Can I put together a perfect team? Impossible! But I can put together a team with fewer mistakes than others who could do that. I’m sure of that.»
Published on May 13, 2026
