'He has the time!' - Carlo Ancelotti challenges Neymar to prove he can become a 'very important player' for Brazil again as countdown to 2026 World Cup begins

Ancelotti began his tenure as Brazil's head coach earlier this month and has addressed one of the biggest questions surrounding the team, Neymar’s future. The 32-year-old has been out of international action since suffering an ACL injury in October 2023. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona forward returned to Santos in 2025 but has continued to battle recurring injuries, missing recent qualifiers for the Selecao in March and June.

Brazil have struggled for attacking consistency in Neymar’s absence and are looking for experienced leadership as they begin shaping their squad for the 2026 World Cup. Still, Ancelotti’s belief in the superstar underscores just how influential he remains when healthy. The Italian confirmed he has already spoken directly with Neymar and told the forward that he still has time to prepare for a comeback.

Speaking to CONMEBOL’s official website, Ancelotti said: "Yes, I’ve spoken with him. He’s a very important player for our national team, for the World Cup. He needs to prepare well—he has the time to do it. I’ve spoken with him about this, that he should prepare properly, because we have the idea that he will become a very important player for the Brazilian national team."

If Neymar stays on track with his recovery, he is expected to make his long-awaited Brazil return in September’s World Cup qualifiers. Brazil host Chile on September 9 before travelling to face Bolivia on the 14th, two matches that could mark Neymar’s first appearance for the Selecao in nearly two years.