Neymar given fitness deadline for World Cup by Brazil head coach

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has given a fitness deadline of six months to Neymar ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup. Neymar has struggled to find a place in the national team as he has not been at the top of his fitness in the last two years.

“I thought Neymar was just a topic in Brazil, but I see it’s a global issue,” Ancelotti said in Monday’s press conference.

“Fortunately, he recovered from his injury. Now he has six months to play.

The former PSG and Barcelona striker has not played for Brazil since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while on international duty in October 2023.

The Italian added, “Neymar is on the list of players who could be at the World Cup. Now he has six months to make the final list. We just have to observe him and other players to avoid making mistakes in the final selection.”

The former Real Madrid coach said Neymar has time to return to his best before the quadrennial event.

“The Brazilian Championship stops on December 7, then he can take a vacation, but then he’ll have the Brazilian Championship again to show his quality and, obviously, his physical condition,” he said.

Neymar has returned to his boyhood club Santos after hardly playing for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, after joining in 2023. He has netted three goals in 16 league appearances for Santos.

Recently, when asked if he feels uncomfortable to be constantly asked questions about Neymar, Ancelotti told Placar: “No, no problem. It’s normal [that people ask] because Neymar is a legend of Brazilian football.

“Everyone wants Neymar to get back to his best physical condition. Brazil’s FA [CBF], the coach, the national team’s technical staff, the players hope that Neymar can return to his best level.”