Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian is being backed to emulate Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard by securing legend status at Stamford Bridge, with the Brazilian youngster considered to be “unbelievably good”. He has already been likened to iconic countryman Neymar, with big shoes to be filled there, while also earning the nickname ‘Messinho’ (Little Messi) in his homeland.

Neymar’s camp have approached both Napoli and Inter ahead of a potential free January move, but both Italian clubs have already turned down the chance to sign him. The Brazilian forward, who will be out of contract at the end of 2025, is determined to return to top-level football as he eyes a Brazil recall for next year’s World Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti insists Neymar remains in his plans for the World Cup next year, but has warned the Santos star that he must be fully fit to earn a recall to the final Brazil squad. The forward has not played for the Selecao since October 2023, in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, but Ancelotti says he could yet play a part in next summer's tournament.

Brazil endured their worst qualification campaign ever for the 2026 World Cup, finishing fifth in the CONMEBOL standings on just 28 points from 18 matches. The Selecao lost home and away to arch-rivals Argentina, with a 4-1 drubbing at the Estadio Monumental ultimately costing Dorival Junior his job as manager, and they were also handily beaten by Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay and Bolivia. But hope for the 2026 finals remains high, with Carlo Ancelotti now holding the reins for the most successful national team in history.

Former Paris Saint-Germain star Rafinha has explained why the era of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the French capital never worked. The trio played together at PSG for two years from 2021, when Messi joined the club from Barcelona on a free transfer, and lasted until 2023 when both the Argentine and Neymar left for Inter Miami and Al-Hilal respectively.