Ronaldo Nazario urges Carlo Ancelotti to call-up Neymar for 2026 World Cup

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :September 26, 2025 at 9:36 PM

Modified at :September 26, 2025 at 9:36 PM

(Courtesy : Getty)

Neymar hasn’t featured for the Selecao since 2023.

Brazilian legend Ronaldo feels Carlo Ancelotti must bring Neymar to the World Cup next year in the USA because they “don’t have another player” like him.

Neymar hasn’t represented Brazil since playing against Uruguay in October 2023 and suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Due to persistent injury concerns, Neymar has missed both of Ancelotti’s Brazil squads after his recuperation and subsequent transfer to boyhood club Santos.

Neymar is the country’s best scorer with 79 goals and has made the second-most appearances (128) after Cafu.

Ancelotti stated earlier this month that the 33-year-old’s fitness may determine whether he plays for them in the 2026 tournament, despite the fact that he has also performed admirably at Santos, tallying six goals and dishing out three assists.

We don’t have another player like Neymar: Ronaldo Nazario

Carlo Ancelotti Brazil Bayern Munich Bundesliga — DORTMUND, GERMANY – AUGUST 05: Head Coach Carlo Ancelotti of Munich arrives prior to the DFL Supercup 2017 match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Muenchen at Signal Iduna Park on August 5, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images )

Ronaldo, however, supports Neymar as a difference maker for the Selecao and hopes he will play in the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next year.

“He is a decisive player for the Brazilian Selecao. We don’t have another player like Neymar,” Ronaldo, a two-time World Cup winner, said during a publicity event in Sao Paulo.”

“The people hope 100% that he will go to the World Cup because if he is there, we will definitely have better results than if he’s not there.”

The Santos player’s availability will hugely depend on his fitness for the competition, as the forward will once again miss out on Brazil’s October international friendlies after suffering a new injury.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti will be keen to have the 33-year-old for the tournament, as he is aware of the former Barcelona star’s impact on the biggest stage of football.

However, it all comes down to his fitness for the next season, and hopefully, he manages to maintain his health and return to the squad ahead of the event next year.

When was the last time Neymar featured for Brazil?

He has not played for the national team since 2023.

Is Neymar still injured?

Yes, he recently suffered a fresh injury and has been ruled out for a month.

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Rajarshi Shukla

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.