Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti says Neymar will have six months to demonstrate he is healthy enough to be considered for the 2026 World Cup squad.
Persistent injuries have kept Brazil’s record goal scorer from featuring for the national team over the past two years.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Ancelotti acknowledged the widespread attention surrounding the forward’s status.
“I thought Neymar was just a topic in Brazil, but I see it’s a global issue,” Ancelotti said. “Fortunately, he recovered from his injury. Now he has six months to play.”
“Neymar is on the list of players who could be at the World Cup. Now he has six months to make the final list. We just have to observe him and other players to avoid making mistakes in the final selection.”
Neymar, 33, has not appeared for Brazil since tearing his ACL during international duty in October 2023.
He returned to Santos in January in an effort to regain his fitness, but recurring muscular issues have limited his time on the pitch.
He has scored three goals in 16 league matches for a Santos side battling relegation in Brazil’s top division.
His frustrations were evident recently when he stormed off after being substituted against Flamengo, though Santos coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda came to his defence afterwards.
Ancelotti, who officially began his tenure with Brazil in May, said Neymar still has an opportunity to regain peak form in time.
“The Brazilian Championship stops on December 7, then he can take a vacation, but then he’ll have the Brazilian Championship again to show his quality and, obviously, his physical condition,” he said.
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