Neymar Denies Injury Concerns After Brazil Squad Omission

Neymar has dismissed Carlo Ancelotti’s claim that an injury kept him out of Brazil’s latest squad. The 33-year-old Santos forward, with 79 goals in 128 caps, insists he is fit after playing against Fluminense and believes his exclusion was for technical reasons. Neymar last featured for Brazil in October 2023 before suffering a long-term knee injury.

For the latest Brazil squad announcement, Neymar has found himself left out despite his desire to feature in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup. The 33-year-old forward, now back at Santos, insisted his omission had nothing to do with his fitness, directly contradicting national team coach Carlo Ancelotti’s explanation. Ancelotti had claimed Neymar was excluded due to a minor knock and the need to manage his physical condition.

However, Neymar clarified that while he experienced some swelling in his adductor muscle, it was not serious, as he even played in Santos’ recent goalless draw against Fluminense and was only rested against Bahia due to suspension. Brazil have already secured their qualification for the World Cup, which made the decision to leave Neymar out of the games against Chile and Bolivia less consequential. Still, the forward believes his absence is down to technical choices rather than health concerns.

Neymar, who last represented Brazil in October 2023 before suffering knee ligament damage against Uruguay that sidelined him for a year, remains the country’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances. With the World Cup approaching, his omission has sparked debate about his role under Ancelotti moving forward.