Santos forward Neymar is regarded as one of the best soccer players to come out of Brazil. He has mesmerized fans and pundits alike with his sensational dribbling ability over the years. However, a plethora of injuries have hampered his career over the last two years.
And, he is reportedly in danger of being left out of Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
Carlo Ancelotti Leaves Neymar Out of Brazil Friendlies Ahead of World Cup
According to reporter Gastón Edul, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has decided not to call up Neymar for his side’s friendlies against France and Croatia next month. He is said to be keen to continue utilizing players like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, and Matheus Cunha.
However, Neymar still has a small chance of impressing Ancelotti for Seleção, as his national side will be in action one last time before the FIFA World Cup from Jun. 1 to Jun. 9. But with him playing only two games across all competitions for Santos since last December, the former Barcelona star is highly unlikely to be a 2026 FIFA World Cup participant.
Neymar, who turned 34 earlier this month, guided Seleção to the quarter-finals of the 2022 edition of the prestigious quadrennial tournament, scoring two goals along the way. He last played for Brazil in a 2-0 World Cup qualifier loss against Uruguay in October 2023.
Since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee on Oct. 18, 2023, Neymar has made only 32 total appearances at the club level. He has sustained knee and hamstring injuries following his return from the ACL issue in October 2024.
Meanwhile, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) icon has recently admitted he could hang up his boots before the end of this year, but is still keen to play in the FIFA World Cup.
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“I don’t know what the future holds for me. It’s possible in December I’ll want to retire. I’m living day by day. This year is crucial, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team and for me. I wanted to come back at 100% this campaign which is why I was rested for some matches,” the all-time top goalscorer of Brazil told Caze TV.
“I know a lot of people are saying all sorts of things, and do not understand the day-to-day reality, but I have to face it. Santos have put an excellent plan in place regarding this. Yes, of course, I wanted to come back to help my team, but in the end, I preferred to rest so I could come back at 100%, pain-free, fear-free, and in top form,” he added.
So far, Neymar has scored 79 goals and recorded 59 assists in 128 appearances for his national team.
