SAO PAULO (AP) – Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has questioned whether Neymar will be in the squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Italian is yet to choose his former captain since he took over in May.
“If Neymar deserves to be (in the squad), if he’s better than other players, then he’ll be in the World Cup, that’s it. (But) I don’t owe anyone anything,” Ancelotti said at a press conference in Washington on Friday after the draw.
Brazil are in Group C along with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
Ancelotti added: “If we talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players as well.” “We have to think about Brazil with and without Neymar and with and without other players. The final list will be drawn up after the FIFA games in March.”
Neymar, 33, has yet to fully recover from his serious injury. torn ACL In October 2023, in a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay. But he is key for Santos in their fight to avoid relegation in the Brazilian Championship.
On Wednesday, he scored a hat-trick for Santos despite a muscular injury. He is scheduled to play again on Sunday against Cruzeiro.
Ancelotti said Brazil currently does not have a “reference player” – the most valuable player tag that has been worn primarily by Neymar since the 2014 home World Cup.
Ancelotti said: “We have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, the best defenders, top midfielders and players up front. We don’t want players who want to be the best in the world, we want players who want to win the World Cup.”
Asked about his team’s group, Ancelotti said Brazil could top that.
“We can win all three games. Our thinking is very clear. We need to remain competitive during the World Cup. Our goal is to play in the final and for that we need to play against very strong teams anyway.”
Brazil won the last of the five World Cup trophies in 2002.
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