The message has passed. Carlo Ancelotti exhorted Neymar to “prepare well” for the World-2026, considering him as “a very important player” despite his repeated injuries. “He must prepare well and he has time to do so,” said Brazil coach in an interview published Thursday by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) on social networks.
“He is a very important player for us for the World Cup,” insisted the Italian coach. Neymar, 33, extended his contract with Santos until the end of the year, the club of his beginnings, where he returned at the end of January.
As during his visit to Paris Saint-Germain (2017-2023), then to the Saudi club in Al-Hilal, where he had only played seven games in 17 months, this return to the fold was sealed by physical seeds. He only played 12 games in five months all competitions with Santos, making three goals and three assists in the regional championship of the state of Sao Paulo.
Package during the March Rally
In the national championship, the number 10 only played four of the eleven meetings of its team, which is fifteenth in the ranking, with the same number of points as the first relegation. Neymar had been called to the national team for the matches in March (2-1 victory against Colombia and 4-1 defeat against Argentina), but had to forfeit due to yet another thigh injury.
The top scorer in the history of the Seleçao (79 achievements, two more than Pelé) was absent at the end of May from the first list of Carlo Ancelotti. It was without him that the five-time world champions obtained qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a draw in Ecuador (0-0) then a victory against Paraguay (1-0), on June 5 and 10.
