RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Striker Neymar has expressed his disappointment at being left out of the Brazil squad for two World Cup warm-ups later this month, according to Brazilian media, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
“You cannot simply brush that aside. Of course, I am angry and sad that I was not called up,” the 34-year-old was quoted as saying late on Monday.
“But the focus remains day by day, every training session, match by match. We will achieve our goal. There is still one final call-up to come, and the dream lives on.”
Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti, did not name Neymar, once the world’s most expensive player, in his squad for the forthcoming trip to the United States (US) for friendlies against World Cup runners-up, France, and Croatia on March 26 and 31.
The two games are Brazil’s final tests before the World Cup squad is announced.
“Neymar can go to the World Cup – if he is 100 per cent fit,” Italian Ancelotti said.
“I did not call him up because he is not at 100 per cent. And we need players who are at their best level. Neymar has to keep working, playing, showing his qualities and good physical condition.”
Neymar’s last appearance for the record world champions was two and a half years ago.
In October 2023, the injury-prone star suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his knee during a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in World Cup qualifying.
Since then, Neymar – who has 128 caps – has not rediscovered his form, and Saudi club, Al-Hilal, allowed him to join his boyhood club, Santos, on a free transfer in January 2025.
In 2017, Paris Saint-Germain paid a €222 million (USD255 million) transfer fee to Barcelona for Neymar, which remains a record. – BERNAMA-dpa
