Neymar: “I’m sad and disappointed not to be in the squad”
Brazilian star Neymar has openly expressed his frustration after being left out of Brazil’s latest squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup preparation matches against France and Croatia. The forward, currently wearing the number 10 shirt for Santos in the Brazilian Serie A, admitted that the decision has hit him emotionally, even though he is trying to remain focused on his club duties and long‑term goals.
The 32‑year‑old took part in a match in São Paulo and, afterward, spoke to the media about national team coach Carlo Ancelotti’s choice to omit him from the 25‑man list for the high‑profile friendlies in Europe. His words made it clear that the exclusion was neither expected nor easy to accept.
“I’m going to say this because I can’t just keep it to myself,” Neymar began. “Of course I’m sad and disappointed not to be called up to the squad. Anyone who knows me understands how much the national team means to me. But our focus continues day by day, through training and matches. We keep working. We’re going to reach our objective. There is still one last call‑up to come.”
Brazil’s squad without Neymar
For the upcoming fixtures against France and Croatia, Brazil’s 25‑man provisional squad does not include Neymar’s name. The list is built around a mix of experienced internationals and rising talents:
Alisson, Bento, Ederson, Wesley, Alex Sandro, Danilo, Douglas Santos, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Leo Pereira, Bremer, Ibanez, Casemiro, Fabinho, Andrey Santos, Danilo, Gabriel Sara, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Martinelli, Cunha, Luiz Henrique, Endrick, Igor Thiago, Rayan.
The selection clearly shows a balance between veterans like Casemiro and Marquinhos and a new generation led by Vinicius Jr., Endrick and several emerging names who are beginning to establish themselves on the international stage.
Ancelotti’s explanation: “Neymar is not 100% ready”
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti addressed Neymar’s absence directly, stressing that the decision was based on physical condition rather than reputation or past achievements.
“Neymar is not being called up at the moment because he is not 100% ready,” Ancelotti stated. “He needs to keep playing matches to reach the right physical level.”
From the coach’s perspective, the priority right now is to have players who can immediately deliver at full intensity in demanding friendlies against top European opponents. These matches are seen as key tests on the road to the 2026 World Cup, and the coaching staff appears unwilling to take risks with a player still working his way back to peak fitness.
Emotional weight of being left out
For Neymar, who has long been one of the faces of Brazilian football, being left out of the national team is more than just a professional setback; it touches on identity and legacy. He has worn the iconic yellow shirt at World Cups, Copa América tournaments and Olympic Games, and he has often been the team’s main source of creativity and goals.
Not hearing his name in the squad announcement is therefore a rare and painful experience. His comment about still believing in “one last call” suggests that he sees this as a temporary setback rather than the end of his journey with the Seleção. At the same time, the sadness and disappointment he admitted reveal how deeply he still cares about representing his country.
Balancing club form and national team ambitions
Back at Santos, Neymar is trying to use this moment as motivation. Remaining focused on club football is not just a standard cliché in his case; it is now the primary route back to the national team. Regular minutes, consistent performances and a clean injury record will be crucial if he wants to convince Ancelotti that he can once again be a central figure for Brazil.
The player himself framed this clearly: the plan is to train intensively, perform in matches and keep his mind on the long‑term objective. For a footballer of his stature, every appearance in Serie A becomes a kind of audition for future international duty.
Competition and generational change
Neymar’s omission also needs to be seen in the context of intense competition for attacking positions. Brazil’s current squad features explosive wingers such as Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha, versatile forwards like Martinelli and Cunha, and highly rated prospects like Endrick and Igor Thiago. These players offer speed, pressing ability and freshness, which are essential in modern high‑tempo international football.
As Brazil gradually refreshes its team for the 2026 World Cup cycle, no place is guaranteed, even for players with Neymar’s history. The decision to prioritize fully fit and in‑form footballers underlines a broader trend: reputation alone is no longer enough to secure a spot when the coaching staff is trying to build a squad that can physically and tactically match Europe’s elite.
Physical condition as a key factor in modern football
Ancelotti’s remarks about Neymar “needing to keep playing matches” highlight how crucial match fitness has become at the top level. After repeated injuries in recent years, Neymar has often had to fight his way back from absences just when club and country needed him most. This pattern has naturally influenced how coaches assess risk when choosing squads for demanding fixtures.
In a national team context, where preparation time is short and the tactical plan must be executed at high speed, a player even slightly short of full sharpness can become a vulnerability. For that reason, the coaching staff prefers to see Neymar prove, over a continuous run of games, that he is once again capable of sustaining a full 90 minutes at the highest intensity.
Psychological test and response
Being dropped from a major national team squad can function as an important psychological test for any top athlete. For Neymar, who has often been at the center of attention since his teenage years, this phase may become a turning point. How he responds-through his work rate, professionalism and performances-will shape not only public perception, but also his relationship with the current coaching staff.
His public acknowledgment of sadness, combined with a repeated emphasis on “focus” and “objective,” suggests an awareness that words alone are not enough. The only convincing answer will be on the pitch, in how he leads Santos and how reliably he stays available and effective.
What it means for Brazil’s World Cup path
From Brazil’s perspective, preparing for the 2026 World Cup without automatically relying on Neymar can be both a risk and an opportunity. On one hand, few players can replace his creativity and ability to decide matches with a single moment of brilliance. On the other, forcing younger attackers to take on more responsibility could accelerate their development and make the team less dependent on a single star.
If Neymar does manage to return to full fitness and form in time, Brazil could arrive at the World Cup with a deeper, more balanced squad-one in which he is an added weapon rather than the only source of inspiration. For that scenario to materialize, the current period of separation between player and national team must serve as a constructive phase, not a definitive break.
A chapter, not the final page
Neymar’s own words-“There is still one last call” -capture the tension of the moment. He recognizes that opportunities at international level are no longer unlimited, yet he is not ready to close the book on his Brazil career. The coming months will show whether he can transform disappointment into renewed momentum.
For now, Brazil will face France and Croatia without one of its most famous names, and Neymar will watch from a distance, trying to turn that feeling of absence into fuel. Whether this becomes the start of a powerful comeback or the beginning of a gradual farewell will depend largely on what happens next in training grounds and stadiums, far away from squad lists and headlines.