Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that deciding whether to include Neymar in his squad for the 2026 World Cup is weighing heavily on his mind. Despite the Santos forward’s legendary status, the Italian tactician is balancing the player's recent fitness struggles against his undeniable talent as the tournament approaches.

Former Chelsea player and manager Ruud Gullit has explained to GOAL why the Blues are no longer appealing for top bosses and would be snubbed by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp. The Premier League heavyweights were once in the market for the best players and coaches available, but the lack of stability in west London has seen their mass appeal wane.

Chelsea starlet Estevao Willian has returned to his native Brazil to continue his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury at the facilities of his former club, Palmeiras. The 19-year-old winger is facing a desperate race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the upcoming World Cup, with his place in Carlo Ancelotti's squad currently in serious jeopardy.

Neymar has been told he no longer possesses the intensity required to compete at the highest level of world football following his latest display for Santos. Former Brazil international Walter Casagrande has suggested that Neymar "doesn't deserve" a World Cup spot while claiming the forward would be an anonymous figure in a game at the level of Paris Saint-Germain's 5-4 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

Neymar has been the face of Brazilian football for over a decade, but the mercurial forward has suffered a major blow ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The 34-year-old has been officially omitted from the iconic Panini sticker album, marking the first time in four editions that he will not be featured among the world's elite players.