Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, confirmed that Neymar will compete for playing time alongside Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha if the experienced forward is fit to participate in the World Cup.
The Santos forward was unable to play in Brazil’s 6-2 friendly victory over Panama at the Maracanã on Sunday and is uncertain for the team’s World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13 due to a muscle strain in his right calf.
“Neymar has to play in his designated position,” Ancelotti stated following the match on Sunday. “He needs to be in the center of the field; he can’t play on the wing. He won’t be on the flanks; he’ll be in the center, as a forward or attacking midfielder … in one of those roles.”
“That’s the position Vinícius [Júnior] and Raphinha played today.”
At 34, Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals.
He has missed national team appearances since suffering an ACL tear while on international duty in October 2023.
Nevertheless, he was included in Brazil’s final 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking his fourth appearance in a World Cup.
When asked how he plans to use Flamengo midfielder Lucas Paquetá, Ancelotti humorously replied: “I want to keep things somewhat under wraps until the World Cup; otherwise, we’ll run out of topics to discuss.
“This is a bit of help for you [the media]. Because we’ve exhausted our topics regarding Neymar.”
Brazil will travel to the United States on Monday and will play their final friendly against Egypt in Cleveland on Saturday.