Ronaldo Urges Brazil to Recall Neymar for 2026 World Cup

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazário has urged national team coach Carlo Ancelotti to recall Neymar Jr. for next year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, insisting the Selecao remain stronger with the forward in their ranks.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has not featured for the national team since October 2023, when he suffered a serious cruciate knee ligament injury while playing against Uruguay. The 33-year-old has since returned to action with Santos, his boyhood club, after a disappointing spell at Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a publicity event in São Paulo, Ronaldo described Neymar as irreplaceable:

“He is a decisive player for the Brazilian Selecao. We don’t have another player like Neymar,” Ronaldo said.
“The people hope 100 percent that he will go to the World Cup because if he is there, we will definitely have better results than if he’s not there.”

Despite Neymar’s return to form with Santos, Ancelotti has yet to call him up in his four games in charge, citing fitness concerns. After omitting him from the September qualifiers, the Italian coach said Neymar “needs to get in better shape to help the national team and to give the best of himself at the World Cup.”

Neymar’s recent career has been plagued by injuries. He missed Brazil’s 2019 Copa America triumph, played just five matches for Al Hilal, and managed only one goal before his long-term injury. His return to Santos in January has been seen as an opportunity to rebuild his career ahead of what could be his last World Cup.