Carlo Ancelotti says he doesn’t “owe” anyone a place in his Brazil 2026 World Cup squad after being repeatedly asked about Santos star Neymar’s prospects. The debate surrounding Neymar’s inclusion has intensified following his recent hat-trick for Santos, yet the Italian coach remains firm that no player is guaranteed a spot based on reputation alone.
Neymar’s World Cup Hopes in Focus
Neymar’s name is synonymous with Brazilian football greatness over the last decade. The forward, once hailed as one of the best in the world during his Barcelona days, has been a pivotal figure for Brazil’s national team. He was the face of the Seleção in the 2014 World Cup, hosted in Brazil, where they reached the semi-finals before a devastating defeat to Germany. He also played an instrumental role in Brazil securing gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, Neymar’s recent journey has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent form, especially during his return to Santos, his boyhood club.
Despite setbacks, Neymar’s recent performances, including a prolific hat-trick, have sparked fresh speculation about his inclusion in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. Yet, Ancelotti, who leads the Seleção, has made it clear that squad selection will be merit-based, focusing on players who are in optimal physical and competitive condition.
The Legacy of Neymar: Brazil’s Undisputed Star in Transition
Brazilian football legends have both praised and critiqued Neymar’s contributions. Cafu, former AC Milan star and World Cup winner, recognizes that Neymar carried Brazil’s hopes for over 15 years but acknowledges that the current circumstances are challenging. Speaking to BBC Sport, Cafu said, “For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil’s undisputed star, carrying enormous expectations and responsibility on his own. But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment is difficult because he struggles to even play three games in a row.”
In contrast, Ronaldo, another Brazilian icon and a 2002 World Cup winner, expressed unwavering faith in Neymar’s ability to bounce back. He emphasized the difficulties players face in recovering from injuries, stating, “He’s a crucial player for Brazil — there’s no one else like Neymar. It’s an exaggeration from a minority who believe he’s neglecting his physical recovery. Anyone who has been in football knows perfectly how hard it is to come back from an injury and regain rhythm and confidence. He’s right on track.”
Ancelotti’s Reality Check: “I Don’t Owe Anyone a Place”
When asked directly about Neymar’s chances of playing in the 2026 World Cup, Ancelotti maintained a pragmatic stance. He emphasized that selection decisions would prioritize team balance and player readiness over past glories or media narratives. “If Neymar deserves to be, if he is well, better than someone else, he will play in the World Cup and period. I don’t owe anyone a debt,” he stated firmly.
This tough but fair approach extends beyond Neymar. Ancelotti also mentioned Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, another highly talented but injury-prone forward, making it clear that the competition for attacking positions is fierce. “There are many players who are very good, I need to choose players that are 100%. It’s not just Neymar, it could be Vinicius. If Vinicius is at 90%, I’ll call up another player who is at 100%, because it’s a team that has a very high level of competence, especially up front,” Ancelotti said.
Brazil’s Road to the 2026 World Cup
With the 2026 World Cup group stage draw revealing opponents Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti, Brazil faces a diverse set of challenges. Ancelotti’s focus remains on assembling a squad capable of navigating the tournament’s demands. His selection process will continue into 2025, with a definitive list due after the FIFA international window in March 2026, just a few months before the kick-off.
Given this timeline, players like Neymar must prove their fitness and form consistently to remain in contention. While his recent performances have certainly rekindled hopes among fans and pundits, the coaching staff’s philosophy remains clear: only players fully fit, confident, and in peak performance will earn a place.
Conclusion: Selection by Merit, Not Reputation
Carlo Ancelotti’s comments on Neymar’s World Cup prospects underline a larger truth in modern football: past laurels and star status, no matter how illustrious, cannot guarantee selection at the highest level. For Neymar and all hopefuls, the path to the 2026 Brazil World Cup squad is firmly rooted in dedication to physical fitness, form, and the team’s broader competitive needs.
As the countdown to the tournament continues, Brazilian football fans await not just individual brilliance but a cohesive, battle-ready team built on meritocratic principles—something Ancelotti appears determined to deliver.Carlo Ancelotti Sends Clear Message on Neymar’s Brazil 2026 World Cup Squad Prospects
Carlo Ancelotti says he doesn’t “owe” anyone a place in his Brazil 2026 World Cup squad, even amid growing speculation about Santos star Neymar’s potential selection. The legendary Brazilian forward, once an undisputed figure in the national team, has faced injury setbacks and inconsistent form lately, leading to questions about his role in the upcoming tournament. Despite a recent resurgence, including a hat-trick for Santos, Ancelotti’s stance signals that no player is guaranteed a spot based on reputation alone.
Neymar’s Legacy and Recent Challenges
Neymar has been synonymous with Brazil’s footballing identity for over a decade. As a standard-bearer at the 2014 World Cup hosted in Brazil, he inspired the national team until an untimely injury in the quarter-finals prevented him from leading them deeper — a campaign that ultimately ended in a painful semi-final loss to Germany. Beyond that tournament, Neymar also played a key role in Brazil’s Olympic gold medal victory in Rio 2016, further cementing his status as an icon.
At 33, however, the Santos forward is no longer the seamless scorer and dribbler who dazzled at Barcelona and in earlier national team campaigns. Frequent injuries have sidelined him repeatedly, complicating his ability to maintain form. His second spell at Santos has been marked by ups and downs, but his recent hat-trick has sparked fresh debate regarding his inclusion in the World Cup squad. Still, this resurgence comes amid a fiercely competitive pool of attacking talent vying for limited spots.
Perspectives from Brazilian Legends: Cafu and Ronaldo
Two of Brazil’s greatest footballing heroes have weighed in on Neymar’s current status and role in the national team.
Cafu, the former AC Milan captain and World Cup winner, highlighted the difficulties Neymar faces in staying fit and consistent. Speaking to BBC Sport, Cafu noted:
“For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil’s undisputed star, carrying enormous expectations and responsibility on his own. But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment is difficult because he struggles to even play three games in a row.”
This reflection underscores the realistic concerns surrounding Neymar’s durability and the physical demands of global tournaments.
On the other hand, Ronaldo, Brazil’s 2002 World Cup legend, expressed unwavering faith in Neymar’s abilities and recovery process. He dismissed criticisms regarding Neymar’s physical regimen as exaggerated and acknowledged the challenges of returning from injuries:
“He’s a crucial player for Brazil – there’s no one else like Neymar. It’s an exaggeration from a minority who believe he’s neglecting his physical recovery. Anyone who has been in football knows perfectly how hard it is to come back from an injury and regain rhythm and confidence. He’s right on track.”
Ancelotti’s Warning to Neymar and Other Brazil Stars
Earlier this week, Carlo Ancelotti laid down clear conditions for selection to Brazil’s World Cup squad. The Real Madrid manager, who is overseeing some of Brazil’s best talent at the club level, emphasized that only players at “100%” fitness and form will be picked. This applies not only to Neymar but also to other forwards like Vinicius Junior, who has similarly wrestled with injury complications.
“There are many players who are very good,” Ancelotti said. “I need to choose players that are 100%. It’s not just Neymar, it could be [Real Madrid forward] Vinicius. If Vinicius is at 90%, I’ll call up another player who is at 100%, because it’s a team that has a very high level of competence, especially up front.”
This statement illustrates the depth of Brazil’s attacking options and the fierce competition for starting roles, reflecting a meritocratic and pragmatic selection approach.
Brazil’s 2026 World Cup Group and Squad Decisions
With Brazil drawn in a group alongside Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti in the 2026 World Cup, the spotlight intensifies on squad-building strategies. When asked again about Neymar’s chances in the tournament squad, Ancelotti remained firm and pragmatic:
“If we talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players. We have to think about Brazil, which can be with Neymar or without Neymar, with other players or without other players. The definitive list we will make after the FIFA date in March. I understand very well that they are very interested in Neymar, I want to clarify that we are in December, the World Cup is in June, I will choose the team that will go to the World Cup in May.
