The soap opera surrounding Neymar‘s presence in the Brazil national team continues to add new chapters. This time, it was Dunga, former Brazil coach and World Cup champion, who spoke out. He made it clear that Neymar’s presence at the FIFA World Cup 2026 depends solely on Neymar himself.
Neymar will only go to the World Cup if he is ready to be a protagonist
The statements from the former Brazilian captain come amid the controversy over Neymar’s absence from Carlo Ancelotti‘s latest Brazil squad call-up, despite the good form he is showing with Santos.
“As a player, technically, there is no discussion. The one who will decide if he goes to the World Cup is him. To go to the World Cup you have to be at 80%, not 100%, but 80% for a player of his quality. Because technically he is a spectacle,” Dunga said during his appearance on the podcast “Um Assado para…”.
On the other hand, the Brazilian football legend considers it unfeasible for the former FC Barcelona star to go to the World Cup in a secondary role, emphasizing his competitive mentality.
“I see people saying: ‘Take Neymar to the World Cup so he can be a substitute.’ He is not going to be a substitute. He won’t accept it.”
“If Ancelotti calls him up, he will have to play. There is no way he will stay on the bench,” he added.
Neymar’s World Cup status – whether he makes the final Brazil squad or not – is shaping up to be one of the biggest storylines ahead of the 2026 World Cup. If he is left out, Ancelotti will be at the center of the debate and will have to justify the decision to leave out one of the greatest Brazilian players in history, especially if Neymar maintains his top form.
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