Neymar is still an uncertainty for the World Cup in the current scenario. With just seven months left until the start of the World Cup, the Santos star still has the possibility of joining the Brazilian delegation at the tournament, but without a guarantee of starting football.
According to journalist Thiago Arantes, from UOL Esporte, the technical committee, led by Carlo Ancelotti, is evaluating the attacker’s situation. Although Neymar’s name is on the list of options, there is no promise that he will start the matches as the team’s main player.
The number 10 would be treated as another member of the squad, needing to demonstrate that he deserves space among those chosen to play, something that has been hampered by the injury problems faced by the player.
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Is Neymar guaranteed a place in the World Cup?
According to UOL Esporte, the Brazilian technical committee is studying Neymar’s inclusion in the final list for the World Cup, but also carefully analyzes all aspects involving the athlete’s performance.
For Ancelotti, it is essential that players capable of contributing immediately are called up. Thus, the striker would need to compete directly with other names in the position and prove that he can deliver what the team needs.
If called up, Neymar should be ready to take the field, and could start on the bench. The attacker would be analyzed from a context of performance and tactical fit, without privileges, something that has happened in recent cycles.
Since Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival at the helm of the Brazilian national team, Neymar has not yet been called up once, partly because he was injured, partly due to a technical decision.
Neymar’s physical conditions
For the striker to have a real chance of competing in the World Cup, he needs to be in good physical condition and be playing regularly. Without a consistent sequence of matches, the possibilities are greatly reduced in the eyes of the committee. The priority is to call up players in full shape and with a competitive rhythm.
The recent history of injuries also weighs on the assessment, reinforcing the need for Neymar to demonstrate continued evolution. Ancelotti wants to have athletes capable of withstanding the intensity of the tournament, which makes it essential that the number 10 shows physical stability in the months leading up to the World Cup.
Neymar’s numbers at Santos (2025)
- 24 games
- 6 goals
- 3 assists
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