SAO PAULO — Neymar faces increasing challenges on his road to the upcoming World Cup following a lackluster display in Santos‘ 1-1 draw against rivals Corinthians in a Brazilian league match over the weekend.
This match was Neymar’s final opportunity to impress before Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti announces his squad for two critical friendlies on Monday. After the game, Neymar expressed his deep desire to represent the national team, but acknowledged that the final decision lies beyond his control.
“I hope to return to the national team and participate in the World Cup, but ultimately, it’s not my decision,” a dejected Neymar shared with reporters after the match in Santos. “Regardless of my situation, I will always support Brazil.”
Neymar holds the record as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals.
The upcoming matches against France and Croatia in the U.S. will mark the final games before Ancelotti reveals his squad in May for the World Cup, set to take place from June 11 to July 19.
The 34-year-old’s performance against Corinthians follows a match he missed, which the Brazilian coach attended.
Memphis Depay netted the opening goal for Corinthians in the 19th minute at Vila Belmiro Stadium, with Gabriel Barbosa equalizing just four minutes later.
Neymar’s most significant opportunity came in the second half when his header barely went wide. Throughout the match, he struggled to make an impact, failing to register a shot on target.
Two representatives from Brazil’s soccer confederation were present at the match in Santos, according to the club.
Ancelotti stated that he would only select players who are fully fit for the tournament in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. He has hinted that some players may not require evaluation, which keeps Neymar’s hopes alive for inclusion in the final squad, even if he is not chosen for the upcoming friendlies.
Neymar’s road to recovery has been challenging; he suffered an ACL injury in October 2023 and underwent another knee surgery in December. Since then, he has appeared in fewer than 10 matches for Santos this year but has occasionally displayed flashes of his former brilliance.
In February, he made his mark by entering the top 10 of Santos’ all-time leading scorers, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory against Vasco da Gama in the Brazilian league.
Fans are concerned that Neymar’s choice to skip a match against Mirassol on Tuesday might jeopardize his chances of participating in his fourth consecutive World Cup.
Local media reports indicated that Ancelotti was not informed of Neymar’s absence until shortly before the match at the 19,000-capacity José Maria de Campos Maia Stadium.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.