"If he deserves it, he'll go." That was Hulk's full contribution to the Neymar World Cup debate. Not a ringing endorsement. Not even close.
The former Brazil striker was pressed on whether Neymar should be in Ancelotti's squad for the 2026 World Cup and essentially shrugged. "I apologise, but I was focused on the match," he added, as if the question hadn't really landed. When one of your country's most decorated recent forwards can't muster a single sentence of support, it says something about where the consensus sits.
Ancelotti's two-month ultimatum
Carlo Ancelotti has been more measured, but the message is the same underneath. "He still has two months to show that he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup," the Italy coach told L'Equipe. That's not an open door. That's a closing one.
Neymar hasn't played for Brazil since rupturing his knee in October 2023. He's back at Santos now, scoring goals and rebuilding — Ancelotti acknowledged as much, saying "he's on the right track." But track and destination are different things, and right now nobody knows if Neymar's destination is a World Cup squad or another injury setback.
The numbers still make the case on paper. Brazil's all-time leading scorer, 32 years old, theoretically in his prime window. At a tournament where Brazil land in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland, his experience against the tougher knockout-round opposition would matter enormously. Brazil's odds of going deep depend heavily on what they bring into the last 16 and beyond — and a half-fit Neymar is a real liability at that stage.
Legacy isn't enough anymore
That's the tension Ancelotti can't escape. Neymar's reputation is not in question. His availability, his sharpness, his ability to sustain a full tournament — all of it is. Selecting him on name alone and watching him pull up in the quarterfinals would be a disaster. Leaving him out and watching Brazil exit early would raise different questions.
The coach has been clear that reputation alone won't secure a call-up. Two months left. The pressure is entirely on Neymar to close the argument — because right now, even his former teammates aren't doing it for him.
