Neymar played against Novorizontino. It didn’t go well, as expected, and some numbers draw attention. He had 90 actions with the ball, was the third most involved player in the game, the one who won (and lost the most) duels and the one who lost the most ball possessions (33), as he was also the one who took the most risks. He himself posted data from Santos’ GPS showing that he was the fourth player on the team in kilometers covered and high-intensity meters, in addition to being second in number of sprints.
Between numbers here and there, there are the feelings of a player who was unable to stand out in the quarter-finals of the São Paulo championship, against an opponent from Series B of the Brasileirão. How can we imagine that this player will be able to decide in a World Cup quarter-final?
Because more than imagining, we must test. And that’s why I argue that Carlo Ancelotti should call up Neymar in March, for the games against France and Croatia.
The performance against Novorizontino can be assessed as poor, but it must also be taken into account that it was only the striker’s second game of the year, the first for 90 minutes. It is normal for Neymar to be a player coming out of pre-season against an opponent in his ninth match in 2026.
When the friendlies arrive, he will have participated in three more matches: Vasco, Mirassol and Corinthians. Enough to be physically fit to perform at least close to what we will see in June in the World Cup. And then the call-up becomes more important for Ancelotti than for Neymar himself.
The coach needs to evaluate, during training and games in March, what he can do in the middle of the year. Does Neymar fit into the team’s way of playing? What should your position be, imagining that Vinicius, Raphinha and Estêvão will be starters? Is it possible to pressurize him on the field? Otherwise, is it worth playing with four attackers? With Neymar, does the team ask for a center forward or does it work better without a typical 9? At 34, are you a player for 90 minutes or 30?
All these questions must go through the Italian coach’s head and, after observing him, Ancelotti will have two months to deliberate with his coaching staff what to do at the World Cup.
Imagine the opposite scenario: Neymar is not called up for friendlies, but makes the final list. Only after the first round of the Cup will Ancelotti evaluate the pros and cons of having him in the team and what adjustments are necessary to improve the team with or without his presence.
I know there are those who think that Neymar should already be a card off the deck. But does it need to be now? I know that he hasn’t been who he once was for a long time. Since 2018, Neymar has not played 50% of his teams’ matches. It no longer has the momentum and change of direction it had at its peak. Still, he is the most special Brazilian player and has the potential to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
I wouldn’t hire Neymar to play in a straight points tournament. The number 10 who failed to make a difference against Novorizontino is insufficient even for Santos, let alone for Brazil. But this player tends to grow (if not get injured) in the coming weeks. If the World Cup were played over 38 rounds over a year, I would bet on another 26 before it. But the upcoming tournament lasts a month, eight games and an infinite number of “small moments” that change the history of the matches and the fate of the teams.
Ancelotti needs to be able to closely observe “what’s left” of Neymar and how he can be useful in June. I don’t think it will be an easy decision to take him or not. And that’s exactly why the coach needs to see it first and have two months to reach the best conclusion.
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