Brazilian football fans were hoping to see their all-time leading goalscorer return to action for the Brazil national football team, but once again, Neymar has been excluded from Carlo Ancelotti’s squad announcement for upcoming international friendlies.
The decision to leave out the 33-year-old has intensified the debate about his chances of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the tournament just seven months away, Neymar’s World Cup dream appears increasingly uncertain.
The Continued Absence: A Recurring Problem
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Carlo Ancelotti officially announced Brazil’s squad on Monday, November 3, 2025, for friendly matches against Senegal on November 15 in London and Tunisia on November 18 in Lille, France.
Once again, Neymar was conspicuously absent from the 26-player roster, marking yet another snub since Ancelotti took charge of the national team.
This latest omission is particularly significant given that Neymar had just returned to action for Santos over the weekend, playing 29 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Fortaleza.
Many observers believed that his return to the pitch might pave the way for a national team recall, but the coach had other ideas.
Ancelotti’s Brutally Honest Assessment
The Italian manager was unsparing in his assessment of Neymar’s situation when questioned about the exclusion. “I haven’t talked to Neymar,” Ancelotti stated bluntly. “We’ll see when he can recover and start playing again. I’m not taking a player that lacks intensity to play the whole World Cup, no chance. We need players that are at a top physical level.”
This harsh verdict reflects Ancelotti’s pragmatic approach: the Brazil coach will not compromise on squad quality by including players who are not at their peak fitness levels.
In a recent press conference in Rio de Janeiro, he elaborated further, saying that while he might consider selecting a player who is not fully fit for the first couple of World Cup matches, it is “impossible” to include someone who isn’t physically prepared for the entire tournament.
“We require players who are in peak condition,” Ancelotti emphasized, reinforcing that only fully match-ready performers will make his final World Cup roster.
The Injury Nightmare: A Two-Year Struggle
Neymar’s injury troubles have been the primary obstacle to his international return. The 33-year-old has not represented Brazil since October 2023, when he suffered a catastrophic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
The injury was devastating, forcing Neymar to miss nearly an entire year of football. He made his comeback with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in October 2024, but consistency has eluded him.
Upon returning to his childhood club Santos in January 2025, supporters hoped the move would help him regain his form and fitness.
However, instead of a triumphant homecoming, Neymar has been plagued by continuous setbacks:
- Thigh injury: Suffered during training on September 18, 2025, sidelining him for nearly two months.
- Recurring muscular problems: Multiple injury setbacks throughout 2025.
- Lack of game time: Missing over 40 matches in the past year due to various injuries.
In the 2024-25 season, Neymar managed just 13 league appearances for Santos, scoring only three goals.
The Physical Fitness Question
Ancelotti’s insistence on players being at peak physical levels is understandable given the demands of a World Cup campaign.
The coach wants to ensure that his squad can withstand the rigorous schedule and intensity of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In recent years, Neymar has played fewer than 25 matches across entire seasons—a concerning statistic for a player expected to perform at the highest international level.
At 33 years old and with a body that has been ravaged by injuries, Neymar simply cannot afford another breakdown mid-tournament.
Glimmer of Hope, But Door Remains Mostly Closed
Earlier in October 2025, Ancelotti provided Neymar with a sliver of hope, stating that the door to the national team remains open “as long as he maintains his fitness”. “Neymar can perform at his top level in this team without any difficulties,” the Brazilian coach said. “When fit, he possesses the quality to play not just for Brazil but for any team globally due to his exceptional talent.“
However, this optimistic assessment has proven conditional. The reality is stark: unless Neymar demonstrates sustained fitness and match fitness over the coming months, his inclusion in the World Cup squad appears increasingly unlikely.
The Final Squad Decision Looms
Ancelotti has indicated that he is now entering the final stages of squad planning for the World Cup. “I believe that the more time we spend with the players, the nearer we get to the finalized roster. I think we are close to what could be the definitive list for June, around 17 to 18 players,” he revealed.
This means that the real decisions about World Cup inclusion will likely be made in the coming weeks and months, with Neymar’s participation hanging in the balance.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia represent another opportunity for Ancelotti to evaluate his squad and work with other players he’s considering for the final roster.
Squad Analysis: Fresh Faces and Familiar Names
The squad Ancelotti named for the November friendlies included several notable decisions:
- Goalkeepers: Bento, Ederson, Hugo Souza
- Defenders: Éder Militão, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro, Caio Henrique, Danilo, Fabricio Bruno, Luciano Juba (uncapped newcomer), Paulo Henrique, Wesley
- Midfielders: Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Andrey Santos, Fabinho (recalled), Lucas Paquetá, and others
- Forwards: Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Estêvão, João Pedro, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Richarlison, Vitor Roque (recalled)
The inclusion of uncapped left-back Luciano Juba from Bahia shows Ancelotti’s willingness to experiment with new talent. He praised Juba’s technical ability and versatility, stating that “he has the ability to play inside, and he’s been playing well with Bahia. He deserves this opportunity so that we can take a closer look at him.”
The recall of 32-year-old Fabinho, who last played for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, also signals Ancelotti’s desire to explore all options in midfield, particularly as a potential backup for Manchester United’s Casemiro.
The World Cup Countdown Begins
With just seven months remaining until the 2026 World Cup, time is running out for Neymar to prove his fitness and regain his place in the national team setup.
The final squad announcement is expected in May 2026, giving Ancelotti several more opportunities to assess his options.
For a player who has been Brazil’s most exciting attacking talent for over a decade, the prospect of missing the World Cup on home soil would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Yet, as Ancelotti has made abundantly clear, sentiment will not factor into his decision-making process. Only results, fitness, and performance will determine who makes the final 23-player squad for football’s greatest tournament.
