Neymar's world cup hopes fade as ancelotti snubs him for brazil's upcoming matches

Neymar's chances of representing Brazil at the upcoming World Cup appear to be dwindling after being left out of the national team's squad for the next two games.

Neymar's fitness issues persist

Coach Carlo Ancelotti cited concerns over the Paris Saint-Germain star's fitness level as the primary reason for his exclusion from the team. 'Neymar can still make the World Cup team if he reaches 100 percent fitness,' Ancelotti said, 'but right now, he's not at that level.' The coach emphasized that the Selecao needs players who can perform at their best, and Neymar must put in more work and showcase both his quality and physical readiness.

This setback for Neymar comes as he continues his recovery from a knee operation that sidelined him for several months. The 34-year-old forward made his comeback in recent weeks, scoring a double for Santos in a 2-1 win over Vasco da Gama and setting up the only goal in a 1-1 draw against Corinthians. However, these performances have not yet convinced Ancelotti that Neymar is fully fit and ready for international duty.

Neymar's absence from Brazil's squad for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia on March 26 and 31 may be a significant blow to his World Cup hopes. These games serve as the team's final preparations before the tournament squad is announced. Neymar's last appearance for Brazil dates back to October 2023, when he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.