Ancelotti: Neymar's Call-Up Depends Solely on Him and Vinicius Should Not Bear Everything

Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar's return to Brazil's national team roster 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 debate; what we need to assess is his physical condition only. It depends on him, not me."

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

He added: "Our responsibility is to relieve some of this burden from him so he can play freely and energetically. We don't need a number one player; we can't build everything around 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, alongside names like Alisson Becker, Casemiro, and Raphinha. He emphasized that leaders in the locker room do not need to talk much as they set an example for the other players.

On another note, Ancelotti emphasized that coaching the Brazilian national team represents "leading the most important team in the world," considering that the strong motivation among Brazilians to end a 24-year wait gives the team an additional incentive to win the 2026 World Cup. He said, "I have a very talented group, and I am convinced that we will deliver a great World Cup."