Ancelotti: Neymar's Call-Up Depends on Him, and Vinicius Shouldn't Bear Everything

Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar's return to the Brazil national team list for the 2026 World Cup 'depends solely on him,' noting that the primary criterion is his performance on the field and his physical condition.

The Italian coach said in an extensive interview with The Guardian: 'Neymar's talent is not up for discussion, what we need to evaluate is only his physical condition, it depends on him and not on me.'

Ancelotti also spoke about Vinicius Junior, explaining that the significant pressure with the national team affected him compared to what he delivered with Real Madrid.

He added: 'Our responsibility is to remove some of this burden from him so that he can play freely and energetically. We don't need a number one player; we can't build everything on one player if we want to win the World Cup.'

The Italian coach also revealed that Thiago Silva is still in his plans for the World Cup despite being 41 years old, praising his physical condition and leadership experience, along with names like Alisson Becker, Casemiro, and Raphinha. He emphasized that leaders in the locker room don't need to talk much as much as they set an example for the other players.

In another aspect, Ancelotti stressed that coaching the Brazil national team represents 'leading the most important team in the world,' considering that the great motivation among Brazilians to end a 24-year wait gives the team additional incentive to achieve the 2026 World Cup title. He said: 'I have a very talented group, and I am convinced that we will deliver a great World Cup.'