President stated that player needs to be physically prepared and be inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi
(PT) stated, this Tuesday (April 14, 2026), that the coach of the Brazilian national team, Carlo Ancelotti, asked for his opinion on Neymar’s call-up for the 2026 World Cup. TV 247in partnership with Forum Magazine e Diary of the Center of the Worldthe president said that the player needs to be physically prepared.
“I had the chance to talk to Ancelotti, and Ancelotti asked me: ‘Do you think Neymar should be called up?’. And I said: ‘Look Ancelotti, if he is physically prepared, he has football’. You need to know if he wants it. If he wants it, he has to be professional”said the president.
The president stated that the striker can seek inspiration from other world-class players. “He can look up to Cristiano Ronaldo, he can look up to Messi, and he goes to the national team because he’s still young. But he can’t want to go by name, he has to want to go by football”said Lula.
Watch the excerpt (1h22min22s to 1h23min13s):
Neymar has not played for the Brazilian national team since October 2023, when he was injured in a match against Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers. The striker has not been included in any squad list made by Carlo Ancelotti since the coach took charge of the national team in May 2025.
Ancelotti has already said publicly that he awaits an improvement in the player’s physical condition. The final list for the World Cup will be announced on May 18th. The competition will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Neymar publicly (PL) in the 2022 elections. On December 3, 2023, Bolsonaro delivered a “ of the 3 ‘is’: ‘imbrochable’, ‘immortal’ and ‘inedible’” to the player.
