Ancelotti sends World Cup squad warning to Neymar and Vinicius Junior

Martin Macdonald

• 6 Dec 2025 06:00 CST
• 3 min read

Nieuws

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned that he will only take players to the World Cup who are at 100% fitness.

He specifically name checked superstars Neymar and Vinicius Junior, both of whom have suffered from form and injury issues in 2025.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward hasn’t been included in a senior Brazil squad for two years, with his last national team cap coming in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in October 2023 when he suffered a serious knee injury.

Vini Jr, meanwhile, has been embroiled in a behind-the-scenes struggle with Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid and there is speculation he could leave Los Blancos. He hasn't been at his swashbuckling best in the 2025/26 campaign so far.

"There are many players who are very good, I need to choose players that are 100%," Ancelotti said on Friday.

"It's not just Neymar, it could be [Real Madrid forward] Vinicius. If Vinicius is at 90%, I'll call up another player who is at 100%, because it's a team that has a very high level of competence, especially up front. Up front, we have really many good players."

Ancelotti is asked about Neymar at every single press conference and questions came again as the player scored a hat-trick in his last match for Santos.

It seems the Italian is beginning to get frustrated by the constant questions as he says he doesn't "owe" anyone automatic selection for the squad next summer.

"If we talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players," the legendary boss insisted.

"We have to think about Brazil, which can be with Neymar or without Neymar, with other players or without other players. The definitive list we will make after the FIFA date in March. I understand very well that they are very interested in Neymar, I want to clarify that we are in December, the World Cup is in June, I will choose the team that will go to the World Cup in May.

"If Neymar deserves to be, if he is well, better than someone else, he will play in the World Cup and period. I don't owe anyone a debt."

The draw for the 2026 World Cup group stage took place on Friday and Brazil were put into a group alongside Scotland, Morocco and Haiti.

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