ShareNeymar is running out of time to prove he should be included in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup.By Graham RuthvenWhile past eras of the Brazilian national team have been defined by World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, the most recent era has been defined by Neymar. For an entire generation, he has been the face of the Seleção and yet that face might not be among those at the 2026 World Cup.It’s been nearly three years since Neymar last made an appearance for the national team. Not so long considered Brazil’s attacking focal point and best player, the 34-year-old has recently struggled for fitness. In Saudi Arabia and back home at Santos, he simply hasn’t played enough football.Last year’s return to Santos was made with an eye on the 2026 World Cup. The idea was that back in his comfort zone Neymar would be able to rediscover his best form again, and to a certain extent the move paid off as the forward finished the 2025 season with eight goals and one assist in just 20 league games.Neymar’s basic numbers since rejoining SantosThis season, Neymar has registered three goals and two assists in six league games, but has found his recovery from arthroscopy knee surgery at the end of last year tough going. Indeed, recent reports in Brazil claimed Neymar is unable to train fully with the rest of his Santos teammates on a daily basis. His lack of fitness remains a concern.And yet Brazil might need someone like Neymar this summer. Their attacking options for the World Cup have been depleted by injuries to Estêvão and Rodrygo, both of whom will be sidelined for the tournament. Carlo Ancelotti may have no choice but to send out an SOS to Brazil’s all-time top scorer.“He’s currently being evaluated by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup,” said Ancelotti when recently asked about the potential of Neymar being included in Brazil’s World Cup squad. Ancelotti must feel he has answered no other questions than those about Neymar since taking the Brazil job almost exactly 12 months ago. Every press conference held by the Italian over the last few months has been dominated by the subject. He gets asked about it in the street with headlines made of his off-the-cuff replies.Brazil only managed fifth in World Cup qualifyingThis might be one reason to leave Neymar at home this summer. Calling up the 34-year-old risks overshadowing Brazil’s World Cup preparations. The Seleção always has a spotlight on it, but that spotlight would be even brighter with Neymar involved again. Ancelotti might not want another circus having just left one at Real Madrid.While Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top scorer, his international career feels somewhat unfulfilled. Unlike so many other Seleção icons, he has never sampled World Cup glory, nor has he even played in a World Cup final or semi-final. 2014 was meant to be his time. Famously, though, Neymar ended the tournament on home soil on a stretcher.Brazil underwhelmed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and there’s little evidence to suggest the 2026 tournament will be more successful after a challenging qualification campaign. A fifth-place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying hardly suggests a sixth World Cup triumph is in the offing.Last month’s friendlies against France and Croatia might have been an opportunity for Ancelotti to reintegrate Neymar. The forward had scored three goals in four games to start the season with Santos, but was omitted despite a clamour in the media for a long-awaited return to the national team fold.“I’m going to call up the players who are physically ready,” said Ancelotti when pressed on his decision to leave out Neymar. “After his knee injury [in December], Neymar has come back well… he’s scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.”Brazil’s scheduled World Cup group gamesSupporters chanted Neymar’s name during the March friendly defeat to France, but the player himself is struggling to string together a run of games that suggests he could handle the rigours of playing at a World Cup when teams have to play every five days. As things stand, it’s not even a guarantee that Neymar can get through 90 minutes.And yet Ancelotti might still be convinced that there is enough of the old magic left in the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain icon to take a gamble. Brazil need something special to have a successful World Cup and Neymar could provide it. He could still make up for lost time this summer.(Images from IMAGO)You can follow every Santos game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.Neymar is running out of time to prove he should be included in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup.By Graham RuthvenWhile past eras of the Brazilian national team have been defined by World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, the most recent era has been defined by Neymar. For an entire generation, he has been the face of the Seleção and yet that face might not be among those at the 2026 World Cup.It’s been nearly three years since Neymar last made an appearance for the national team. Not so long considered Brazil’s attacking focal point and best player, the 34-year-old has recently struggled for fitness. In Saudi Arabia and back home at Santos, he simply hasn’t played enough football.Last year’s return to Santos was made with an eye on the 2026 World Cup. The idea was that back in his comfort zone Neymar would be able to rediscover his best form again, and to a certain extent the move paid off as the forward finished the 2025 season with eight goals and one assist in just 20 league games.Neymar’s basic numbers since rejoining SantosThis season, Neymar has registered three goals and two assists in six league games, but has found his recovery from arthroscopy knee surgery at the end of last year tough going. Indeed, recent reports in Brazil claimed Neymar is unable to train fully with the rest of his Santos teammates on a daily basis. His lack of fitness remains a concern.And yet Brazil might need someone like Neymar this summer. Their attacking options for the World Cup have been depleted by injuries to Estêvão and Rodrygo, both of whom will be sidelined for the tournament. Carlo Ancelotti may have no choice but to send out an SOS to Brazil’s all-time top scorer.“He’s currently being evaluated by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), by me, and he still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup,” said Ancelotti when recently asked about the potential of Neymar being included in Brazil’s World Cup squad. Ancelotti must feel he has answered no other questions than those about Neymar since taking the Brazil job almost exactly 12 months ago. Every press conference held by the Italian over the last few months has been dominated by the subject. He gets asked about it in the street with headlines made of his off-the-cuff replies.Brazil only managed fifth in World Cup qualifyingThis might be one reason to leave Neymar at home this summer. Calling up the 34-year-old risks overshadowing Brazil’s World Cup preparations. The Seleção always has a spotlight on it, but that spotlight would be even brighter with Neymar involved again. Ancelotti might not want another circus having just left one at Real Madrid.While Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top scorer, his international career feels somewhat unfulfilled. Unlike so many other Seleção icons, he has never sampled World Cup glory, nor has he even played in a World Cup final or semi-final. 2014 was meant to be his time. Famously, though, Neymar ended the tournament on home soil on a stretcher.Brazil underwhelmed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and there’s little evidence to suggest the 2026 tournament will be more successful after a challenging qualification campaign. A fifth-place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying hardly suggests a sixth World Cup triumph is in the offing.Last month’s friendlies against France and Croatia might have been an opportunity for Ancelotti to reintegrate Neymar. The forward had scored three goals in four games to start the season with Santos, but was omitted despite a clamour in the media for a long-awaited return to the national team fold.“I’m going to call up the players who are physically ready,” said Ancelotti when pressed on his decision to leave out Neymar. “After his knee injury [in December], Neymar has come back well… he’s scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.”Brazil’s scheduled World Cup group gamesSupporters chanted Neymar’s name during the March friendly defeat to France, but the player himself is struggling to string together a run of games that suggests he could handle the rigours of playing at a World Cup when teams have to play every five days. As things stand, it’s not even a guarantee that Neymar can get through 90 minutes.And yet Ancelotti might still be convinced that there is enough of the old magic left in the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain icon to take a gamble. Brazil need something special to have a successful World Cup and Neymar could provide it. He could still make up for lost time this summer.(Images from IMAGO)You can follow every Santos game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.