'World in a bubble' - Santos star Neymar called out for showing 'lack of maturity' with comments on potential Brazil return

Neymar scored twice for Santos last time out against Juventude, with his performance coming in front of Brazil national team staff members who were at the stadium to check on the forward. The Brazilian superstar spoke about his international hopes after the match and his attempts to force his way back into the reckoning, bluntly saying he "does not need to prove anything to anyone".

Neymar has not played for Brazil since suffering an ACL injury in 2023 and new boss Ancelotti has challenged him to prove he can be an "important player" for his country once again. The Santos star is said to be determined to play at the 2026 World Cup but has been told his comments directed at Ancelotti lack maturity and that he needs to be more considerate in future.

Former Brazil midfielder Zé Elias said on ESPN: "Neymar doesn't have the maturity to understand certain things. That answer is the response of a guy everyone fawns over, pats him on the back, and he's used to that kind of situation. That was the question he was asking to promote himself, to say, 'I'm fine, I'm feeling good, I've played five games without leaving, I'm playing 90 minutes, I'm getting better every day.' But he doesn't have the maturity to understand that kind of question, because he thinks everyone is doubting him, everyone is questioning him, that whole me versus you thing, and there's nothing like that.

"The people working there are doing their job, and many of them are rooting for Neymar to return to playing good football, to understand that he's important. It feels like a world in a bubble. Neymar is 33 years old. It's time to understand his importance to the outside world, not just to himself, because sometimes he only talks to himself. He could be a key player for the Brazilian national team, but he might not be the same as before.

"Neymar, for me, is the last great genius on the shelf of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo Fenômeno, because his ability to improvise is otherworldly. He thinks of a play, executes another in a fraction of a second, but that maturity is lacking in these moments."

Neymar and Santos are due back in action on Sunday against Cruzeiro. Brazil's next fixtures are in September when Ancelotti's side take on Chile and Bolivia in World Cup qualifying.