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The Brazilian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has admitted that he has a lot of trouble deciding whether to include Neymar in his squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Despite the Santos forward’s legendary status, the Italian tactician is balancing the player’s recent physical problems with his undeniable talent as the tournament approaches.
The weight of history against physical reality
Ancelotti has included Neymar in his provisional 55-player list for the tournament, but will reduce that number to 26 when he announces the final squad on May 18.
At 34 years old, Neymar is indisputably one of the greatest talents Brazilian football has ever produced, but his place in the 2026 World Cup squad is not a certainty.
After a disastrous period at Al Hilal and recurring injuries, his return to Santos has left glimpses of the old star, but still under the shadow of doubts about his competitive intensity.
“When choosing you have to take many things into account,” Ancelotti explained in an exclusive interview with Reuters.
“Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown. He has had some problems and is working hard to recover. He has improved a lot lately and is playing regularly. Obviously, for me it is not an easy decision. We have to carefully weigh the pros and cons, but that does not put pressure on me. We have been evaluating not only Neymar, but all the players, for a year.”
Neymar’s role in the locker room
One of the crucial points for Ancelotti is the harmony of the group.
The Italian, known for his impeccable human management, knows that the presence or absence of a figure like Neymar alters the collective dynamic.
The coach highlighted that his teammates have already made it clear that they want to have the number 10 nearby, something that he values when analyzing the internal climate of the Brazilian National Team.
“I know perfectly well that Neymar is very loved, not only by the public, but also by the players,” Ancelotti said.
“That is also a factor, because you have to take into account the atmosphere that will surround Neymar’s call-up. It is not that he is going to drop a bomb in the locker room. He is very loved, very loved. I think it is normal for the players to express their opinion. I thank everyone who has given me advice, I thank everyone. But, in the end, the right person to make this decision, the most appropriate person to do it, is me.”
Shielding against the external environment.
For the coach, media pressure and noise from the fans cannot interfere in the selection process.
Ancelotti reinforced that his priority is to maintain tranquility in the work environment, regardless of the decision he makes at the beginning of next week.
He believes that the group is prepared to face any outcome that has to do with the Santos star.
“I don’t think the internal environment affects the team at all,” he added.
“The atmosphere is very positive, very calm, and no matter which player is in the squad, it will remain positive and calm until the end. But I cannot control the external environment and what the media says. The internal environment is under control and will remain that way until the end, with or without Neymar. This influences the point I just mentioned: knowing that if I add Neymar to this group, the group will be fine because he is very loved by everyone.”
Technical criteria and total autonomy.
The final part of the evaluation revolves around Ancelotti’s tactical demands, which require high intensity and defensive recovery.
Despite recognizing Neymar’s physical improvement in recent games with Santos, the coach emphasized that the decision will be strictly professional, depending on what the player can deliver on the field in the current conditions of international football.
“His physical condition has improved a lot in recent games. He has played very good games lately,” Ancelotti said.
“His physical condition has improved. He can maintain a high intensity during a match. But there are matches and matches. I am calm because I know perfectly well that the decision is mine.
“No one pressured me to call up Neymar. I have total autonomy. The decision will be 100% professional. I will only take into account his performance as a footballer. Nothing more. Can I form a perfect team? Impossible! But I can form a team with fewer errors than others who would try. Of that I am sure.”
