IIt was recently confirmed that Neymar would be left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for upcoming international friendlies, shocking news for the former FC Barcelona star who was keen to return to the Brazilian national team (Canarinha) ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Dissatisfaction with Neymar in Brazil: clear signs he could miss out on the World Cup
CNN Brazil, citing internal sources at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), reported that Neymar is “effectively unable to participate in the World Cup.” The report describes the Santos FC forward’s current situation as “very delicate”, mainly due to a lack of complete confidence in his current fitness due to the long period of inactivity, as well as growing tensions with the CBF leadership.
Neymar’s public comments after being left off Ancelotti’s list have not gone down well with the federation, with officials believing he is using his enormous media influence and overwhelming fan support to put pressure on the coaching staff.
One of the most criticized incidents was his absence from the match between Santos and Mirasol. Carlo Ancelotti went out of his way to watch Neymar play in person, but Neymar not only didn’t attend the game, he didn’t even make an effort to show up at the stadium or meet or greet the manager as a sign of enthusiasm or respect.
In Brazil, it is widely seen that the CBF has made a serious effort to give Neymar one last genuine chance by evaluating him in a competitive environment, but as it stands Neymar is far behind in the race for a spot in the 2026 World Cup squad.
There are still a few important matches remaining before the final squad is announced, but CNN Brazil reports that the Brazilian superstar is on extremely thin ice and that manager Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to include him in the final squad.
