Former Rio Ferdinand has made a passionate appeal to Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, to reconsider his decision to leave out Neymar ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The call comes after Ancelotti named his squad for the March international fixtures without including Neymar. The Brazilian boss explained that the Santos forward was not fully fit, stressing that his current physical condition made it difficult to involve him at this time.
Despite that reasoning, Ferdinand has openly questioned the decision, expressing shock that a player of Neymar’s stature would miss out.
“Neymar has not made the recent squad, man, I cannot believe it,” Ferdinand said while speaking on his YouTube show.
The former Manchester United defender went further to stress how important it is for top players to feature at major tournaments like the World Cup, not just for their teams but for the global audience.
“As a football fan, I am praying that he’s there and that he touches the pitch at the World Cup because this is what it’s about,” he added.
Ferdinand explained that competitions of such magnitude are defined by iconic moments produced by elite players, insisting Neymar still has the ability to deliver on the biggest stage.
“The greats of the game, the icons that you go, ‘Remember that moment?’ He could produce one of those moments at a World Cup,” he said.
He concluded with a direct plea to Ancelotti, urging the experienced coach to rethink his stance and bring Neymar back into the national team setup.
“I am telling you, please, Carlo, get Neymar back in.”
With the 2026 tournament approaching, debate continues over Neymar’s place in Brazil’s plans, as fans and pundits weigh concerns about his fitness against his undeniable quality and experience at the highest level.
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