He is not physically ready - Ancelotti set to leave Neymar out of Brazil squad

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has indicated that his squad for the 2026 World Cup is nearly finalised, casting serious doubt on Neymar's chances of representing the Seleção at the tournament.

The Santos forward was once again omitted from the national team for their upcoming friendlies as he continues to battle persistent fitness issues.

Neymar has not featured for the five-time world champions since suffering a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Uruguay in October 2023.

The injury, which saw him stretchered off before halftime, sidelined the superstar for nearly a year.

After a spell with Al-Hilal, he made a celebrated return to his boyhood club, Santos, earlier this year.

However, his comeback has been plagued by setbacks. Having missed 40 games in the past year, a recent hamstring injury kept him out for over six weeks.

A brief 23-minute appearance against Fortaleza was not enough to persuade Ancelotti to include him in the squad for the upcoming matches against Senegal and Tunisia.

While Ancelotti previously stated in October that the door would remain open for a physically fit Neymar, his recent comments suggest a shift in tone.

The Italian coach emphasised the need for players to be in peak condition for the entire tournament.

"I haven't spoken to Neymar yet; we'll see what happens when he recovers and is able to play again," Ancelotti said at a press conference.

He elaborated on his selection criteria, stating, "I might call up a player who lacks fitness for the first match or two of the World Cup, but I can't include a player who is not physically ready for the entire tournament. We need players who are at their best."

The former Real Madrid boss added further weight to speculation about Neymar's exclusion by revealing how close he is to his final list.

"I believe that the more time I spend with the players, the closer we get to the final list," he noted. "I think we are close to what could be the final list for June, I think 17 to 18 players."

As Neymar's international future hangs in the balance, his club situation also remains unresolved. His contract with Santos is nearing its end, and while the club is keen on an extension, financial constraints are a major factor.