The decision to keep Neymar in the 2026 World Cup squad, despite him not being in optimal physical condition, is a highly risky gamble by head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Not long ago, multiple sources confirmed that Neymar would be unavailable for Brazil’s pre-World Cup friendlies. Furthermore, the superstar risks missing several matches at the globe’s biggest football tournament, as he has not fully recovered from his injury.
However, in his latest statement, Ancelotti asserted that he will not drop Neymar. “He will be with us at the World Cup. We have selected 26 players, and they will all go to the World Cup. We still expect Neymar to be on the pitch for the first match against Morocco. If he cannot play, we will wait until the second match against Haiti,” the Italian strategist emphasized.
In reality, from the moment the 2026 World Cup squad was announced, Ancelotti’s decision to call up Neymar sparked controversy. Specifically, the manager opted to leave out several young players who are in better form, fitter, and more suited to the high-intensity, high-speed, and pressing demands of modern football, simply to reserve a spot for the former Barcelona star.
When Ancelotti called up Neymar, many argued that this was not a purely tactical decision. Neymar has been the biggest icon of Brazilian football for over a decade, and dropping him from the World Cup would undoubtedly cause a massive shock. Yet, keeping him also means Brazil carries a significant question mark right from their first day of gathering.
The issue lies in the fact that Ancelotti previously emphasized that only fully fit players in good form would go to the World Cup. That is a reasonable standard for a team aiming to win the championship.
But when it was discovered that Neymar’s injury was worse than expected—potentially forcing him to miss the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup—Ancelotti made a U-turn, insisting that no one from the announced list would be dropped.
No one can deny Neymar’s talent, especially given what he has achieved for the Brazilian national team. However, the World Cup is no place for vague hopes. In a short-term tournament, every match carries immense significance, and reserving a spot for a player with no clear return date is an incredibly risky decision.
If Neymar fails to recover in time, Brazil will lose a personnel option. But if he returns without being in optimal condition, Ancelotti will face an even tougher dilemma: whether to use him or not.
Ancelotti has his reasons to place faith in Neymar, as he understands the value of big-game players in crucial World Cup matches. This is a tournament that demands not only physical fitness but also mental fortitude, resilience, and the ability to produce moments of magic.
But that faith is only justifiable if kept within clear limits. Brazil cannot sacrifice the entire collective’s preparation just for Neymar.
Therefore, the decision to keep Neymar is a difficult gamble for Ancelotti at the 2026 World Cup. If Neymar returns in time and helps Brazil advance deep into the tournament, Ancelotti will be praised as the man who dared to trust a genius during the most difficult times. But should Neymar fail to reach full fitness, disrupt the squad’s rhythm, or cause Brazil to pay the price for a wasted spot, all the criticism will squarely land on Ancelotti.
