Carlo Ancelotti has clarified Brazil's selection criteria for the 2026 World Cup, placing the onus squarely on Neymar to prove his fitness ahead of the final squad announcement. The Italian manager told The Guardian that the 34-year-old forward's inclusion depends entirely on his physical readiness, not his undisputed talent.
"The call-up of Neymar depends only on him. It depends on what the player demonstrates on the field," Ancelotti explained. "With Neymar, we only need to evaluate physical condition, because his talent is indisputable. It depends on him, not on me." The statement underscores a pragmatic approach: the Santos star must prove he can withstand tournament demands despite his stellar technical abilities.
Recent Form Strengthens Neymar's Case
Neymar recently delivered a timely reminder of his match-winning prowess, leading Santos to a 2-0 victory over Red Bull Bragantino in the Brazilian Serie A. He scored a stunning solo goal in first-half stoppage time and set up Adonis Frias with a clever set-piece in the 75th minute, snapping a troubling seven-game winless streak. The performance drew a standing ovation when he departed, signalling his value to both club and country.
The preliminary 55-man pool features 19 players from Brazil's domestic circuit, with Flamengo contributing seven and Cruzeiro five representatives. Injuries have reshaped the European contingent: Estevao's thigh injury cost Chelsea a potential inclusion, while Real Madrid faces similar losses with Rodrygo and Eder Militao sidelined. Only Vinicius Jr remains from the Spanish champions' roster.
Ancelotti will announce the definitive 26-man squad on Monday in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil then faces Panama on May 31 and Egypt on June 6 in warm-up friendlies before opening their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 in Group C, where Haiti and Scotland await.
