"I can't be objective. Neymar is a friend." That's Lionel Messi, not pretending to be neutral — and at least he's honest about it.
Speaking on Lo del Pollo this week, the Argentina captain made his position clear: Neymar belongs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Brazil, regardless of form, fitness, or the fact that he hasn't pulled on a Brazil shirt since October 2023.
"We want the best players to be there and Neymar, no matter his form, will always be one of them," Messi said. "It would be wonderful to see him at the World Cup because of what he means to Brazil and to football."
The gap between loyalty and selection reality
Here's the thing: Messi's affection is understandable, but Brazil's situation is more complicated than a best-friend endorsement. Neymar, now 34, has been absent from Carlo Ancelotti's squads since the Italian took charge earlier this year. Two years of recurring injuries, a move to Al Hilal that went nowhere, and a return to Santos haven't exactly rebuilt his case as an automatic pick.
Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 international goals still carries weight in name. Whether his body can carry weight on a pitch for 90 minutes across a tournament is a different question — one Messi's warm words don't answer.
The two go back to Barcelona's MSN era alongside Luis Suárez, then reconvened at PSG before separating in 2023. That history clearly runs deep. "He has a very special charisma," Messi added. "He lives his life, he's happy, and he's very natural." A fair character reference. Less useful as a fitness assessment.
What this means for Brazil's World Cup betting picture
Brazil's odds as World Cup contenders fluctuate every time a new question mark appears around their squad depth and attacking identity. Neymar's potential return — or continued absence — is one of the bigger variables. A fit Neymar playing regularly for Santos between now and June 2026 changes the conversation entirely. An injury-disrupted one doesn't move the needle.
Ancelotti has kept his selection cards close. Messi's endorsement might generate headlines, but the Italian will be watching minutes, not friendships.
"Obviously, I'd love for him to be at the World Cup, for good things to happen to him because he deserves it for the kind of person he is," Messi said. Twenty-four months without a Brazil cap suggests deserving it and getting there are two very different things.
