Carlo Ancelotti criticized for including Neymar in 2026 World Cup squad

Future Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti is already under pressure regarding his squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Italian tactician's decision to include veteran star Neymar in the final list has been labeled "absurd" by a former Seleção member. Former goalkeeper Vagner Fernando Velloso has sharply questioned the star's recent performance level. This is reported by Goal.com .

Velloso, speaking on the "Novabrasil em campo" program, expressed his surprise at Ancelotti's selection. In his view, it is illogical to call up Neymar while leaving out Chelsea forward Joao Pedro. "I wouldn't take Neymar to the World Cup. Choosing Neymar over Pedro is one of the biggest mistakes in football. Pedro is a top scorer in every tournament, while Neymar can't even play against average teams," said the former player.

Velloso also accused Neymar of cherry-picking matches and mismanaging his physical condition. He noted that the forward has avoided strong opponents like Palmeiras and Flamengo, participating only in games against weaker teams. According to the expert, Neymar failed to make the expected difference even in those matches.

Despite the criticism, Velloso explained why Ancelotti might be relying on the 34-year-old. According to him, the current Brazil squad lacks charisma and leadership. Neymar can at least provide hope to fans as a technical leader, as other players in the squad appear mentally weak.

Neymar himself is very happy about the opportunity to represent the national team once again. Although critics doubt his physical condition, the former Barcelona and PSG star continues to emphasize the difficulties on his path to returning to the national team and how important this opportunity is for him.