Neymar and Vinicius Jr are key players for the Selecao
Head coach of the Brazil national team, Carlo Ancelotti, has cautioned star players Vinicius Jr and Neymar to stay fully fit ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to him, the physical fitness of players will be a major requirement in selecting his team for the tournament.
The Selecao coach noted that Brazil is endowed with many talented footballers; therefore, performance and fitness prior to the Mundial will determine his selection, not a player’s status.
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He warned that Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr and team captain Neymar could be omitted from the squad if they are not fully fit.
“Vinicius Junior? He must be in full physical fitness. There are many special players, and I have to choose players in their full physical fitness.
“Not only Neymar, but also Vinicius. If Vinicius is not in full physical fitness, I will call another player for Brazil because the team has a high level of competition, especially in attack,” Ancelotti said, as shared on X.
Vinicius Jr has been struggling for consistent form in the 2025/26 season as Real Madrid continues to face challenges.
Neymar, on the other hand, has faced recurring injuries that have sidelined him for quite some time at Santos, but he is working to regain his fitness ahead of the World Cup.
Read the comment below:
🚨🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil coach): “Vinicius Junior? He must be in full physical fitness. There are many special players, and I have to choose players in their full physical fitness.”
“Not only Neymar, but also Vinicius. If Vinicius is not in full physical fitness, I will call… pic.twitter.com/ujBUiooOu5
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) December 1, 2025
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