Nation’s highest goalscorer can make the Seleção but he needs to show quality and fitness
Carlo Ancelotti has said that ageing Brazil genius Neymar still has a route back into the squad but must prove he can stay fit and competitive over the next six months.
Neymar is Brazil’s record goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 matches but has not featured for the national team in over two years, since he sustained a knee injury in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.
Since then, his career has been on a decline. After joining Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain he played only seven games for the Saudi Pro League club before joining his boyhood club Santos in Brazil, but he has struggled with injuries and form there.
It means that a place in the national team for next year’s showpiece in North America is unlikely, but Brazil’s manager suggested there was still a way back for him.
Ancelotti said: “Fortunately, he recovered from his injury. Now he has six months to play. 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.”
Neymar has featured for Brazil in three World Cups, but has notably had injuries problems during the tournament, particularly in the 2014 and 2022 editions. If he features, he will join Cafu and Ronaldo Nazario among the players who have featured in four World Cups for the Seleção.
“Neymar is on the list of players who could be at the World Cup,” said Ancelotti. “Now he has six months to make the final list. We just have to observe him and other players so as not to make mistakes in the final list.”
