Ancelotti backs Neymar for World Cup, confirms end of star's Brazil spell

Ancelotti backs Neymar for World Cup, confirms end of star's Brazil spell Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti “officially” confirmed the end of Neymar’s era in the yellow and green shirt. In an interview with CNN Esportes S/A last Sunday (13), the Italian manager said that the decision not to return to the team came from the player himself. The No. 10’s presence at the last World Cup sparked intense debate among fans and the sports media. The questions focused mainly on the player’s fitness and match sharpness for a short tournament, as well as his absence from the 2026 World Cup cycle. Despite the criticism surrounding the forward’s current situation, Ancelotti strongly defended the call-up, justifying the decision based on the player’s historic talent and brilliance. “He deserved to be there because of his quality. [...] Neymar has already confirmed that he does not want to return to the national team. [...] Neymar cannot be replaced because he was an extraordinary and unique talent. So, an irreplaceable player,” said Ancelotti. With Neymar’s international retirement now confirmed, the focus of Brazil’s coaching staff shifts elsewhere. Alongside national team director Rodrigo Caetano, Ancelotti has already indicated that he will begin a deep renewal process within the squad. The idea is to prioritize young talents in Brazilian football for the upcoming cycles, as we have already seen in the first squad announcement after the 2026 World Cup. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.