Carlo Ancelotti sets target for Neymar to earn place in Brazil’s World Cup 2026 squad
The forward is currently recovering from a knee injury.
Before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Neymar has three to seven games to persuade Carlo Ancelotti to select him in the Brazil squad for the competition this year.
The final World Cup squad list will be revealed in May. Carlo Ancelotti’s March call-up is the final one before then. It is already known behind closed doors that the Italian coach does not prioritise the No. 10.
Neymar will have just two more games to persuade Ancelotti to include him in the upcoming Brazil squad call-up if Santos lose or draw with Velo Clube and does not make it to the Paulista Championship quarterfinals. Vasco and Mirassol will play Santos prior to the squad announcement.
Neymar given a few games to prove his physical capacity to Ancelotti
The star forward may play up to four more games if the Santos squad wins and advances to the quarterfinals: two in the Paulista final, one in the semifinals, and one in the quarterfinals.
Time is running out for the Santos forward, who is still recovering from his most recent injury. His World Cup participation has not yet been announced.
Carlo Ancelotti, who will coach Brazil in the World Cup, stated that he is now going over the final roster. Brazil is optimistic that Neymar will be fully recovered and able to excite the fans, who desire to see him dominate the 2026 World Cup.
However, Neymar no longer cleanly fits within Ancelotti’s tactical scheme. He is not considered a classic No. 9 or a winger. Rather, if chosen, the coach views him as a hybrid, central option who works in between lines.
How many games does Neymar have to convince Ancelotti to play for Brazil?
He will have to show that he is physically capable of playing consistently in Santos’ next few games.
Has he returned from a knee injury?
He is yet to be included in the Santos squad for their games. The player is still recovering.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.