Neymar at the World Cup? Although this question has no answer other than yes for thousands of soccer fans, his presence is in doubt for the sport’s biggest event.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has yet to decide whether the Santos star will be one of those called up for the World Cup, but one of his teammates not only wants him on the team, but said they “need him.”
Rodrygo sends a strong message about Neymar
All the teams are already preparing to win the World Cup, and Neymar, who does not have a guaranteed place, does not want to be left out.
However, the Real Madrid star has no doubt that Neymar should be among the players traveling to the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
For Goes, the midfielder remains an indispensable figure in the team and defended Ney’s place in Brazil, assuring that winning their sixth World Cup would feel incomplete without the presence of the number 10:
“Neymar at the World Cup? In my opinion, there wouldn’t even be a discussion,” Rodrygo said without hesitation on CazeTV’s Um Dia Com… program (via Sports Illustrated).
“We know he’s getting ready to be in shape, but there’s no way we can leave him out. It wouldn’t be as fun without him. We need him,” he added.
Neymar had not played a game since December 7 last year, his last match being against Cruzeiro in the final round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. Days later, on December 22, 2025, he underwent knee surgery to treat a medial meniscus injury.
Neymar’s physical condition and the intensity level of the World Cup are two determining factors that Carlo Ancelotti will have to navigate, keeping him in doubt.
The player, who will turn 34 before the tournament, has recently shown flashes of his best form, but at the end of the day, everything will depend on his physical condition and the coach’s final decision.
According to reports from ESPN Brasil, the Italian coach has already decided on 18 of the 26 names, but the Santos star will not be among them. However, the words of Goes, with whom Ancelotti shared Real Madrid, may weigh heavily on the coach’s decision.
Furthermore, this is not the first time that Rodrygo has publicly backed his teammate, as in 2024 he had pointed out that Brazil needed Neymar in form to aspire to the title.
While he continues to recover and his future is decided, Neymar and Santos FC will face Mirassol on Wednesday, March 11, in the fifth round of the Brazilian Serie A Championship at the Estádio José Maria de Campos Maia.
Meanwhile, Brazil will be in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. They will make their debut against Morocco on Saturday, June 13, at the New Jersey Stadium in New York.
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