Neymar admitted he was disappointed after being left out of Brazil’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States. But striker Santos insisted his dream of playing at the FIFA World Cup remains very much alive.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for the March friendlies on Monday. He missed the 34-year-old striker once again as the team prepares for the final matches before the World Cup roster is decided. Reacting to the decision, Neymar said he was upset but remained determined to fight for a place in the final squad.
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“I will talk about it because I can’t just let it slide. Of course I’m angry and sad that I wasn’t called up,” Neymar said.
The Brazilian forward added that he remains focused on improving his fitness and performances in the coming weeks.
“But the focus remains day by day, training by training, match by match. We will reach our goal. There is still one last challenge at the World Cup and my dream lives on. We are in this together,” he said.
Brazil will face France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando, with the matches expected to be the last chance for the players to impress before Ancelotti announces his World Cup squad on May 18.
CALLED!
Mr Ancelotti has released the list of players called up for the friendlies against France and Croatia on March 26 and 31 in the United States.
hit the chest!
THIS BRAZIL pic.twitter.com/qT9zVAn6Gl— Brazil (@CBF_Futebol) March 16, 2026
WHY WAS NEYMAR KICKED OUT BY BRAZILIAN FRIENDS?
Neymar’s omission from the squad is largely due to concerns about his fitness after returning from a serious knee injury.
The forward has struggled to maintain consistent playing time since recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus injury suffered while playing for Brazil in October 2023.
Although Neymar recently completed the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Corinthians, he had limited minutes overall and was rested for the match against Mirassol, which Ancelotti personally attended.
Brazil’s coaching staff favor players who can cope with the physical demands of a World Cup campaign where teams can play up to seven games in a matter of weeks.
Despite the setbacks, Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 international goals and hopes to prove his mettle in the Brazilian league before the final squad announcement.
Brazil’s friendly squad includes forwards like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Joao Pedro and Matheus Cunha, while youngster Endrick has also been called up.
WHAT DID ANCELOTTI SAY ABOUT THE NEYMAR SNUB?
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that Neymar’s absence from the squad was purely due to fitness concerns.
“Neymar is not 100 percent and that is why he is not on the list,” Ancelotti said.
The Italian manager emphasized that Neymar does not need to prove his ability with the ball, but must be physically ready to compete at the highest level.
“Neymar is not at 100 percent of his abilities. If he can be at 100 percent physically, he can be there,” added Ancelotti.
He also hinted that Neymar still has a chance to be part of Brazil’s World Cup plans.
“Neymar could be at the World Cup. Neymar has to keep working, playing, showing his qualities and keeping in good physical condition,” he said.
WILL NEYMAR PLAY IN FIFA WORLD CUP 2026?
With Brazil’s final World Cup squad to be announced on May 18, Neymar now faces a crucial period to prove his fitness.
The next two months could decide whether the veteran forward earns a place in what could be his final World Cup appearance.
If Neymar can regain consistent playing time and stay injury-free with Santos, he could still force his way back into the national team lineup.
For now, the Brazilian star is focused on working his way back and keeping his World Cup dream alive.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
17 March 2026 09:49 IST
