Carlo Ancelotti open to Neymar's Brazil return for 2026 World Cup

The Brazilian has not played for the national team for two years.

Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Brazil, stated that Neymar can play a significant role in his squad for the World Cup the following year, but he must first demonstrate that he is in “good physical condition.”

Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals, Neymar, hasn’t represented his country since tearing his left knee’s ACL in October 2023.

Due to persistent injury concerns since rejoining his boyhood club Santos in January, the 33-year-old forward, a former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, has not been included in either of Ancelotti’s Selecao squads thus far.

The forward refuted Ancelotti’s claim that he was kept out of the squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers because of fitness concerns.

In response, Neymar said he “was left out for technical reasons, it has nothing to do with my physical condition, it’s the coach’s opinion and I respect it.”

Ancelotti reveals Neymar’s chances of getting called up for the national team depend on his fitness

But according to Ancelotti, Neymar’s fitness – rather than his skill – will determine whether or not he makes the Brazilian team.

“We are not going to observe how Neymar plays, obviously. Everyone knows his talent,” Ancelotti told ESPN Brasil’s Pedro Ivo Almeida.

“In modern football, to take advantage of his talent, the player has to be in good physical condition. If he is in his best physical condition, he will have no problems being in the national team.”

“Everyone wants Neymar in the national team in good physical condition. I spoke with him, and I said you have time to prepare in the best way to be there and help the team try to do their best in the World Cup.”

Although Neymar has played both wide and centre attacking positions in the past, Ancelotti stated that he believes the player no longer possesses the physical attributes necessary to play as a wide forward.

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