Politics pokes its nose into the squad fight
Brazil’s national team selection has dragged government figures into the mix. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has now spoken openly about Neymar’s status. He’s happy enough with the 34-year-old’s footballing case for next summer’s North American World Cup. But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one: Neymar must prove he’s physically ready, no excuses.
An official consultation has already taken place. The presidency says it has been in direct contact with Carlo Ancelotti. The message passed on to the Italian coach was clear enough — Neymar only goes if he’s fully fit. Ancelotti will name his final 26-man squad on May 18.
Patchy minutes back home
The numbers make the whole thing messy. Brazil’s all-time top scorer, with 79 goals, hasn’t played for the national side since October 2023. His return to Santos has brought only limited action. So far, he’s featured in seven of the club’s 21 matches.
His injury record explains why Ancelotti hasn’t called him in yet. Neymar now has a run of about 10 matches left to change the picture before the May deadline.
A bright spot in a team that’s wobbling
South American competition gave another glimpse of the same old story. Santos faced Paraguayan side Deportivo Recoleta on Tuesday in the Copa Sudamericana. It finished 1-1 at Vila Belmiro.
Neymar struck early, scoring in the fourth minute. It was his fourth goal of the calendar year, but it wasn’t enough to get the job done. Deportivo levelled from the spot before half-time, and Santos then wasted their way through the second half, drawing plenty of anger from the fans in the stands.
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