It has been almost three years since Neymar last played for the Brazilian national team.
The all-time leading scorer for Brazil (79 goals) suffered an ACL injury in October 2023 and has faced several injuries since, including a significant knee issue in December.
This led to coach Carlo Ancelotti excluding him from recent friendly matches against France and Croatia, raising doubts about his place in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Despite this, in an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti didn’t completely rule out Neymar’s participation.
Carlo Ancelotti keeps the door open for Neymar
“He’s currently being evaluated by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup,” said the coach (h/t The Athletic).
Neymar has been performing well for Santos after his injury, scoring three goals in four matches. Ancelotti noted that Neymar’s form will influence his selection for the national team.
“I’m going to call up the players who are physically ready,” Ancelotti said. “After his knee injury in December, Neymar has come back well; he’s scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.”
Although the Brazilian national team isn’t as packed as before, it still boasts a strong roster of offensive players.
Even with Rodrygo sidelined due to injury, players like Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Raphinha, Joao Pedro, and Gabriel Martinelli are available, making it challenging for Neymar to secure a spot.
However, Neymar is a respected figure for the team, and his leadership could be valuable. If he continues to score and stay fit, he may improve his chances of winning Ancelotti’s trust.