Neymar’s comeback nod
Carlo Ancelotti publicly praised Neymar’s form after a knee injury and said he’d consider calling him up for the World Cup if Neymar’s fitness continues to improve — a clear vote of confidence from a top coach. That endorsement matters because it signals Neymar could be back in national‑team contention as he regains form. (x.com)
Carlo Ancelotti just gave Neymar a live World Cup audition with a deadline: about two months. On April 11, Ancelotti said Neymar can still make Brazil’s 26-man squad for the 2026 tournament if his fitness and form keep improving before the June 11 kickoff. (thestar.com.my) That is a shift from “legend on the outside” to “candidate under review.” Reuters reported that Ancelotti said Neymar is “on the right track” after leaving him out of Brazil’s warm-up games against France and Croatia last month. (straitstimes.com) The reason this became a real debate is simple: Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 2023. That was the month he tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee while on international duty. (espn.com) He is not just another veteran trying to hang on. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading men’s scorer with 79 goals, a record he moved past Pelé in September 2023. (espn.co.uk) The club part of the comeback matters because Brazil’s coach cannot pick old highlights. Neymar went back to Santos to get regular minutes, and Santos renewed his contract through the end of 2026 in January, which keeps him playing through the World Cup year instead of drifting between short-term deals. (santosfc.com.br) The recovery has not been clean. Neymar had minor surgery on his left knee on December 22, 2025, and ESPN reported in March 2026 that he had only just returned for Santos after that procedure. (espn.com) So Ancelotti is weighing two clocks at once. Neymar has the reputation of a player who can decide a knockout game, but the World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, which leaves very little time to prove he can handle repeated matches instead of one sentimental cameo. (fifa.com) Brazil’s path makes the decision even sharper. FIFA’s official schedule has Brazil opening Group C against Morocco on June 13 in New York New Jersey, with Haiti and Scotland also in the group, so Ancelotti is choosing for a tournament that begins with three high-pressure games in quick succession. (fifa.com) What Ancelotti offered was not a promise and not a farewell. It was a coach saying that if a 34-year-old forward can turn training sessions and Santos minutes into reliable match fitness before June, Brazil will still make room for one of the most decorated names in its history. (sportstar.thehindu.com)
