The possibility of seeing Neymar again with the selection of Brazil in one World Cup gained strength after Carlo Ancelotti will include him among the 55 footballers who made the first cut towards the 2026 World Cup. The Santos striker re-enters the Canarinha scene after almost three years without playing an official match with the national team.
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Although The Brazilian federation has not yet officially released the pre-listdifferent media outlets in the country confirmed the presence of the attacker, whose physical situation had raised doubts in recent months. Ancelotti himself had conditioned any return on a full recovery.
“If he returns to 100%, something of which he is fully capable, he will be able to play for the National Team.“, previously stated the Italian coach, who also stressed that the footballer had to “demonstrate that he has the necessary physical condition to play in the next World Cup.”
Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 17, 2023when he suffered a torn cruciate ligament during a qualifying match against Uruguay. Since that injury, four coaches have passed through the Brazilian bench without calling him up again.
The forward is trying to regain continuity in Santos and, in the current season, he played 13 matches between the Brasileirao, Torneo Paulista, Copa Sudamericana and Copa do Brasil. In that period he scored six goals and provided two assists.
Ancelotti analyzes names and leaves out several figures
The preparation of the final list still maintains several open debates within Brazil. Ancelotti must announce the final squad next Monday, May 18, a few days before the warm-up friendlies against Panama and Egypt.
Among the most commented absences are Rodrygo and Éder Militãoboth True Madrid footballers. It was also left out Estevão18-year-old attacker linked to Chelsea.
Another name that began to gain space is that of PeterFlamengo striker. The attacker has 16 goals and four assists in 29 games, a performance that placed him in the discussion despite not having yet made his debut with the senior team.
The competition also moved to midfield. According to Brazilian media reports, Andrew Santos He would not have a guaranteed place and would be behind players like Casemiro, Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paquetá and Danilo dos Santos. The number of midfielders that Ancelotti decides to call will end up being decisive.
In attack, the option of Rayan, a Bournemouth footballer, also arose. The forward has accumulated five goals and two assists in 13 games since his arrival and appears as an alternative to occupy the right wing due to Estêvão’s physical doubts and the absence of Rodrygo.
Brazil will begin its participation in the World Cup on June 13 against Morocco in New Jersey. Later he will face Haiti on June 20 and will close the group stage against Scotland on June 25.
Before the World Cup debut, the Brazilian team will play two preparatory friendlies: the first will be on May 31 against Panama at the Maracaná stadium, while the second will be played on June 6 against Egypt in Cleveland.
The inclusion of Neymar in the pre-list keeps open the possibility of the attacker playing in a new World Cup, something that seemed distant after the serious injury suffered in 2023.
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