Neymar given fitness deadline for World Cup by Brazil boss
SÃO PAULO, Brazil – Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has given forward Neymar a six-month window to demonstrate his fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup, saying the national team will monitor the 33-year-old closely before finalising its squad.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, has struggled with recurring injuries and has not featured for the Seleção since tearing an anterior cruciate ligament during international duty in October 2023. He returned to Santos in January in an effort to regain form, but a series of muscular setbacks has limited him to 16 league appearances and three goals for a side battling relegation in Brazil’s top flight.
Ancelotti, who took charge of Brazil in May, told reporters on Monday that Neymar’s inclusion will depend entirely on his ability to sustain fitness and perform consistently. “Neymar is on the list of players who could be at the World Cup,” Ancelotti said. “Now he has six months to make the final list. We will observe him and the others carefully to avoid mistakes in selection.”
The Italy-born coach acknowledged the global scrutiny surrounding Neymar but stressed that the forward’s recent recovery offers a chance to rebuild rhythm. Ancelotti noted the calendar gives the veteran attacker adequate opportunities to prove his readiness once the domestic season pauses. “The Brazilian Championship stops on December 7, then he can take a vacation,” he said. “After that he will have the Championship again to show his quality and, importantly, his physical condition.”
Neymar’s frustrations have surfaced during his stint with Santos, including an angry reaction to being substituted against Flamengo, though coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda later defended the player’s commitment. Santos remain optimistic about securing a new contract with their academy product, while reports continue to link the forward with a potential return to Europe.
The next six months will determine whether Neymar can re-establish his durability and form at elite level, with Brazil maintaining that a fully fit and sharp version of their most prolific scorer remains in contention for a place at the 2026 World Cup.