Carlo Ancelotti says Neymar is on the right track for a World Cup return, giving the Brazilian star two months to prove his fitness and form.

Carlo Ancelotti has left the door open for Neymar to earn a place in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The experienced coach said the forward still has time to prove he deserves inclusion.

Ancelotti has consistently maintained that Neymar will be considered if fully fit, though the attacker was left out of Brazil’s squad for recent warm-up matches against France and Croatia.

The Brazilian star, who is his country’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has not featured for the national side since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023. Since then, he has struggled to maintain consistent form following his return to Santos.

During Brazil’s recent 2-1 defeat to France in Boston, fans called for Neymar’s return, chanting his name throughout the match. At the time, Ancelotti downplayed the reaction, insisting the focus should remain on the players currently selected. However, the Italian manager has now indicated that Neymar remains firmly in contention as Brazil finalise their plans for the tournament. The World Cup is set to run from June 11 to July 19 across North America and Mexico.

Ancelotti praised Neymar’s talent, acknowledging his ability to influence major tournaments. He confirmed that both he and the Brazilian Football Confederation are closely monitoring the forward’s progress.

The coach noted that Neymar has shown positive signs since returning from injury, including scoring goals, but stressed the importance of improving his overall fitness and maintaining consistency in the coming weeks.

Brazil have been drawn in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland, with their campaign set to begin on June 13. Ancelotti will be hoping Neymar continues on his current path as he makes his final squad decisions.