Neymar returned to Brazil in early 2025, eager to revitalize his career at Santos. However, despite remaining in the spotlight, his performances are not in his favor. At 33 years old, the former Barcelona star struggles to stay injury-free and play consistently. Arriving with a high profile and aspirations of rejoining the Brazil national team for the 2026 World Cup, Neymar is not at his best, which could have serious implications for his future.
On Monday evening, Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for upcoming friendly matches against Senegal and Tunisia on November 15 and 18. Unsurprisingly, Neymar’s name was absent from the list. Still Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, he faces stiff competition from Vinicius, Rodrygo, Richarlison, João Pedro, Estevão, and Vitor Roque, who has been impressive since returning to Brazil.
Ancelotti ready to leave him out of the USA trip
Last October, the Italian coach praised the former PSG player, stating, “When he is in good physical condition, he has the qualities to play not only for Brazil but for any team in the world because of his talent.” He hoped to rely on Neymar for 2026. However, Ancelotti recently put pressure on the 33-year-old, saying: “I haven’t spoken with Neymar recently. We will see when he can recover and play again.”
Having returned to action last weekend after yet another muscle injury, Neymar played only 24 minutes against Fortaleza, a performance insufficient to convince the coach. “For the World Cup, we need players in top physical condition. I could play a player lacking intensity for the first or second match, but I won’t call up a player like that for the entire tournament. We need everyone at their best,” emphasized Ancelotti. The superstar has been warned.
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