Brazilian star Neymar has been excluded from the Brazil national team roster for the March 2026 international break, the last before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who took over after Dorival Junior, decided not to include the 34-year-old Santos striker in the friendly matches against France (March 26, Boston) and Croatia (March 31, Orlando), which are considered key preparations for the tournament.
Neymar, the Selecao’s all-time leading scorer, has not played for the national team since October 2023 due to serious knee injuries (cruciate ligament and meniscus).
Despite his return to Santos and inclusion in the preliminary lists earlier in March, concerns about his fitness, muscle fatigue and questionable absence from a club match (a break for workload management) appear to have worried coach Ancelotti and CBF officials.
It still remains unclear whether Neymar will be included in Brazil’s final roster for the 2026 World Cup. /Telegraph/