With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than 100 days away, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has yet to decide with certainty whether Neymar Jr. will be one of the players traveling to the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
However, Carletto also has his sights set on the two friendlies prior to the tournament, where they will face France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando. It was reported that the Santos star was on this preliminary list of players called up, but an injury could affect his future.
Neymar’s return to Brazil in jeopardy
The 66-year-old coach had planned to attend the match between Mirassol and Santos on Tuesday, March 10, for the fifth round of the Brasileirao, along with other members of his coaching staff, to observe the performance of the #10 before confirming his name on Monday, March 16.
However, Ancelotti will not be able to see Ney in action, as a muscle strain due to excessive fatigue in training forced him to sit out the match, according to Mundo Deportivo. Neymar and the team decided not to expose his body to another match so that the setback does not escalate or worsen.
Despite this, once he has rested and continues to take care of himself, the Brazilian star is expected to be ready to play against Corinthians this Sunday, so Carletto’s call-up should not change if the coach decides so, as he has not changed his schedule and will be present at the match.
The player, who will turn 34 before the tournament, has not played for the Brazilian national team since October 17, 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury that kept him off the field for more than a year in a South American qualifying match against Uruguay. Since then, the Brazilian has gone through a long road marked by physical problems and recovery processes.
Now, a new injury has affected him, but fortunately, with the necessary precautions taken, it is hoped that he will not be sidelined for much longer.
These friendlies, to be played at the end of the month, will serve as preparation for the World Cup, a competition that Neymar dreams of playing in as it could be the last of his career. However, Ancelotti has repeatedly insisted that all players must be “100% and not 80%” to be called up.
In the meantime, we will have to wait and see if Ney will finally return to play for the Brazilian national team.
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