Brazilian legend Ronaldo has publicly appealed to national team coach Carlo Ancelotti to reinstate Neymar into the Selecao squad ahead of next year’s World Cup in North America.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has not represented his country since October 2023, when a serious knee injury sidelined him. Now 33, he has returned to form with Santos(the club where his career began)after cutting short an unsuccessful stint in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal.
Despite his steady run of games back in Brazil, Neymar has been overlooked in Ancelotti’s first four squads since taking charge. Ronaldo, however, believes the forward’s talent remains irreplaceable.
“He is a difference-maker for Brazil. There is no other player with his qualities,” Ronaldo said during a promotional event in São Paulo. “The fans are desperate to see him at the World Cup. With him, our chances are much better.”
The two-time World Cup winner, now 49, scored 62 goals in 99 appearances for Brazil and knows the weight of expectations on a star player.
Neymar’s career in recent years has been marked by injuries. He missed Brazil’s Copa America triumph on home soil in 2019 and endured another setback in 2023 when he tore his cruciate ligament in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. That injury kept him out for nearly a year and limited him to only a handful of matches for Al Hilal before he returned to Santos in January.
Ancelotti, who omitted Neymar from his September call-up, explained that the forward still needs to reach peak condition. “He must be fitter to help the team and give his best at the World Cup,” the Italian coach said.
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