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Carlo Ancelotti has warned Neymar he will only be selected for Brazil's World Cup squad if he is fully fit, insisting the Santos forward must be '100 per cent, not 80 per cent'.
Neymar, 33, is back at his boyhood club after a nightmare stint in Saudi Arabia and has featured in eight consecutive matches, completing every one from start to finish.
Santos insist the forward is in 'excellent shape' and their medical team say they have been meticulous in monitoring his condition since his return.
Team doctor Rodrigo Zogaib told Ge Globo that Neymar had only a minor bout of adductor swelling after a clash with Vasco da Gama but played the full 90 minutes against Fluminense and is 'still on the rise'.
That view contradicts Ancelotti's reasoning for leaving him out of recent Brazil squads.
The Italian has cited fitness concerns while building towards next summer's World Cup. Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has not played for the Selecao since suffering a devastating knee ligament injury against Uruguay in October 2023 that ruled him out for a year.
Carlo Ancelotti has warned Neymar he will only be selected for Brazil's World Cup squad if he is fully fit
Neymar, 33, is back at his boyhood club after a nightmare stint in Saudi Arabia and has featured in eight consecutive matches
'A national team needs to have the most talented players. It is obvious, right?' he told L'Équipe. 'But a talented player also needs to be physically fit.
'He needs to be 100 per cent, not 80 per cent. Neymar is improving his fitness. He is undoubtedly the most talented Brazilian player. He had a small physical problem and recovered very quickly.
'But I want him to be in perfect shape so he can play. He can participate in the World Cup if he is physically fit. From a technical standpoint, there is no debate.'
Ancelotti added that Neymar’s omission from recent squads was not a test but part of a longer plan for 2026. ‘We do not need to test him, everyone knows him,’ he said. ‘His goal must be to be ready by June 2026.’
Brazil’s qualifying campaign has also raised the stakes. Ancelotti’s side slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Bolivia in their final South American qualifier, finishing with their lowest points total in history, and the veteran coach is under pressure to rebuild.
Despite the turmoil, Ancelotti is demanding discipline from his biggest name as he tries to forge a side capable of reclaiming the World Cup next summer.
