Tensions have emerged between Neymar and Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti following the forward’s exclusion from the national squad for upcoming friendly fixtures against France and Croatia.
The 34-year-old forward, who holds the record for football’s costliest transfer at £198million when he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, has publicly voiced his frustration at being overlooked.
Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer has not represented his country since October 2023, making this latest snub particularly difficult for the former Barcelona star.
The dispute centres on Ancelotti’s decision to drop Neymar from the squad despite initially including him in a preliminary selection for the international break matches.
Speaking to MadHouseTV following a Kings League match, Neymar broke his silence on the matter: “I’m going to speak because I can’t stay silent.
“Obviously, I’m upset and sad about not being called up, but my focus remains the same: day after day, training session after training session, match after match.”
The Santos forward added: “We will achieve our goal,” referring to his ambition of securing a place in Ancelotti’s World Cup squad this summer.
Carlo Ancelotti only wants players who are in peak physical condition
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REUTERSHis omission came after he was forced to sit out a Santos fixture that the Italian manager had planned to attend, with persistent muscle fatigue cited as the reason for his absence.
Ancelotti addressed the decision directly, explaining his rationale for requiring players at peak fitness: “Neymar could be at the World Cup.
“Why haven’t I called him up now? Because he’s not 100 per cent and, at this moment, we need players who are in perfect condition.”
Winners of the last five World Cup finals | PA
The former Real Madrid boss indicated that the summer tournament remains a possibility for the veteran attacker: “The final squad list will be another story; he has to keep working and getting playing time to arrive in optimal physical condition.”
The Italian coach emphasised that both fixtures against France and Croatia would be demanding, high-intensity encounters with limited recovery time between matches, necessitating a fully fit squad.
Neymar’s career has been plagued by persistent physical setbacks, with recurring problems affecting his ankles, knees and hamstrings severely disrupting any sustained run of form in recent seasons.
Despite these difficulties, he remains Brazil’s record goalscorer, having netted 79 times across 128 international appearances, and has shown glimpses of his exceptional talent since returning to his boyhood club.
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer
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PAThe competition for attacking positions in Ancelotti’s squad is intense, meaning Neymar faces a significant challenge to force his way back into contention.
The forward has also recently contemplated stepping away from the game entirely, telling CazeTV: “I don’t know what will happen from now on.
“It could be that December arrives and I want to retire.
“I’m living year by year.”
