Neymar faces an uncertain path to the World Cup after his performance for Santos in a 1-1 draw against Corinthians. The Brazilian league match was Neymar’s last game before Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti announces his squad for two key friendlies. The friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States will be the last games before Ancelotti names his final World Cup squad in May.
Neymar’s Reaction and Fitness Concerns
Neymar expressed his desire to play in the World Cup, but acknowledged the decision was out of his hands. “I wish to go back to the national team and play in the World Cup, but that’s not up to me,” Neymar told journalists. “Whether I am there or not, I will always cheer for Brazil.”
Ancelotti has stated he will only select players who are fully fit for the tournament. He has also suggested some players don’t need testing. Neymar suffered an ACL injury in October 2023 and underwent knee surgery in December. He has played less than 10 matches for Santos this year.
Performance and Absence
Neymar’s performance against Corinthians followed a match he missed that the Brazil coach attended. Memphis Depay scored for Corinthians in the 19th minute, with Gabriel Barbosa equalising four minutes later. Neymar’s best chance was a second-half header that narrowly missed. He struggled with the ball and did not have a shot on goal.
Fans fear that Neymar’s decision to miss a match against Mirassol might jeopardise his chances of playing in his fourth consecutive World Cup. Local media reports said Ancelotti was not informed about Neymar’s absence until a few hours before the game.
Glimmers of Hope
Despite his recent injury and limited playtime, Neymar has shown glimpses of his potential. In February, he broke into the top 10 of Santos’ all-time leading scorers. This followed a brace in a 2-1 win against Vasco da Gama in the Brazilian league.
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals.
Two staffers of Brazil’s soccer confederation attended the match in Santos.