2 weeks ago
Neymar will make his 4th World Cup quality aft Brazil named him to their 26-man squad connected Monday. The determination was not guaranteed arsenic questions surrounded Neymar’s fittingness since his anterior cruciate ligament tear much than 2 years ago.
The Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said that Neymar “has improved his fitness” aft nan squad announcement astatine a gala successful Rio de Janeiro. “He will beryllium an important subordinate successful this World Cup.”
Brazil’s all-time starring scorer pinch 79 goals, nan 34-year-old rejoined his boyhood nine Santos past twelvemonth aft a enactment pinch Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. Neymar has scored 8 goals crossed his 3 World Cups successful 2014, 2018, 2022 and will effort to guideline nan Seleção to their first title since 2002.
The Chelsea guardant João Pedro was nan astir notable omission from nan squad. Some expected he would make his first World Cup roster astatine 24 years old, and he has played for Brazil successful world title successful nan lead-up to this cycle, but Ancelotti favoured Neymar, Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, Bournemouth’s Rayan, Brentford’s Igor Thiago and others astatine that position.
“It was very difficult to take these 26 players,” said Ancelotti. “Why? Because nan title successful this state is very, very high. I cognize immoderate players who person been pinch america this twelvemonth will beryllium unhappy.”
