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Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of the Brazilian national team, discussed Neymar’s physical condition in an interview with Reuters at the CBF headquarters, just days before the World Cup squad announcement.
The Italian coach emphasized that Neymar has shown significant improvement in his physical form in recent matches. However, Ancelotti remained tight-lipped about whether he will include the number 10 in the final World Cup roster, stressing that the decision would be based purely on professional factors.
“He has improved a lot physically in the last few games. He’s been playing some very good matches recently. His fitness has gotten better — he can maintain high intensity throughout a match. But every game is different,” said Ancelotti.
The Brazilian boss also dismissed any speculation about external pressure to include Neymar, asserting full autonomy over selection. “No one pressured me to call Neymar. I have complete independence. The decision will be 100% professional. I will only consider his performance as a football player — nothing else,” he added.
Ancelotti acknowledged that building a perfect squad is impossible, but expressed confidence in his ability to “assemble a team that makes fewer mistakes than others would” in his position.
Neymar’s participation in the World Cup remains uncertain. The forward, who has dealt with injuries in recent months, has been enjoying a consistent run of starts for Santos. Since April, he has played eight matches as a starter, scoring three goals and providing one assist.
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Ancelotti’s official squad list is set to be announced on May 18 at 5 PM local time in Rio de Janeiro. The final roster will consist of 26 players selected from the 55 pre-selected names revealed this week — and Neymar’s name appeared on that preliminary list.
