Neymar’s place in Brazil’s World Cup squad is uncertain, despite being the country’s top football star.
The Santos forward has not been included in recent call-ups, making his chances of joining the final squad seem slim.
However, Carlo Ancelotti keeps the possibility open, and Neymar is working hard to show he can meet the requirements for a return.
Neymar meets key physical target as Brazil staff evaluate him
Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images
According to UOL, Ancelotti and his team are closely watching Neymar’s physical condition as part of their assessment.
One important measure is his ability to run over 18.6 mph while controlling the ball, which he achieved against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday.
In that match, Neymar reached a top speed of 20.2 mph, meeting one of the targets set by the Brazil coaching staff.
Despite this progress, there are still worries about his ability to maintain high performance in multiple games within a short span.
UOL reports that the staff wants to evaluate his consistency, especially his capacity to perform well without long recovery times between matches.
Santos now has a busy schedule with four games in 11 days, including three at home, providing Neymar a chance to strengthen his case.
If he delivers solid performances during this period, his likelihood of getting a World Cup call-up is expected to increase.