France’s star player, Kylian Mbappé, believes it would be unimaginable for his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Neymar, to miss the World Cup.
After being sidelined by injuries since October 2023, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer is striving to recover in time for his fourth World Cup this summer.
“The World Cup is a showcase of stars,” Mbappé stated prior to the team’s warm-up match against Brazil.
“All the stars are present, and Neymar is undoubtedly one of the biggest. I can’t picture a World Cup without him. However, I have to respect my former coach, [Carlo] Ancelotti, and his decisions.”
When asked whether this Brazilian squad represents Neymar or his Real Madrid teammate Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé replied, “Vini is at a point where he needs to step up with the national team, but Neymar is still Neymar. He is an exceptional player.”
Vinícius is also hoping Neymar can recover in time for the World Cup. “The pressure on Neymar is just part of the game,” he said. “I’m a bit biased since he’s one of my idols. He’s doing everything he can to be 100% ready and return to the national team.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the coach, but we players always want to be on the field with the very best.”
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Vinícius is expected to spearhead Brazil’s offense against France. Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar still holds a chance to be included in the World Cup squad as long as the Santos forward regains full fitness.
Former Brazilian stars have weighed in on the debate surrounding whether Ancelotti should include Neymar in the squad, despite his fitness struggles.
When addressing the ongoing discussion regarding Neymar’s situation, Ancelotti commented on Wednesday: “I am aware of the discussions and opinions. However, it is my responsibility to make the final decisions. It’s normal for people to express their views, as football is not an exact science.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I have to acknowledge that.”