Ronaldo calls on Ancelotti to choose Neymar for World Cup

The Brazilian Great Ronaldo has called on the Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti of Selecao to restore Neymar to the team next year for the World Cup in North America.

The record position of Brazil with 79 goals from 128 games, Neymar has not pulled the yellow jersey since October 2023 when he sustained a serious knee injury.

The 33-year-old played regularly for Sao Paulo side Santos since he returned to his first club in January after a fruitless spell in Saudi Arabia with all Hilal.

Nevertheless, Ancelotti called Neymar in his four games.

Read | Neymar will have no problems securing the World Cup place when he is in top condition, says Ancelotti

«He is a decisive player for the Brazilian Selecao. We have no other player like Neymar,» said Ronaldo, who won the World Cup with Brazil twice, during a publicity event in Sao Paulo next to his countryman.

«The people hope 100 percent that he will go to the World Cup, because if he is there, we will certainly have better results than if he is not there,» added Ronaldo, 49, who scored 62 goals in 99 Brazilian matches.

Neymar has been plagued by injury in recent years and in 2019 missed the Brazilian Copa America-Triumph on home floor.

He joined Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023, but after having played only five times and scored one goal, he tore his crossbone ligament over international duty against Uruguay.

He was out of operation for a year and only played two games for the Saudi side before he left for Santos.

After leaving Neymar from his team in September for world cup qualifications, Ancelotti said that he «should be in better shape to help the national team and give the best of himself at the World Cup.»

Published on September 25, 2025