Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Monday that Neymar remains in the national team's plans, but the striker needs to regain full fitness to return to the Selecao.
Neymar , 33, has not played for Brazil for two years, with injuries hampering his ability to perform consistently since returning to Santos last year after a spell with Saudi club Al Hilal .
Ancelotti , speaking ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Japan in Tokyo, praised Neymar's talent but stressed the importance of his physical condition.
The Italian coach told reporters: "Neymar can play at his highest level for the Brazilian national team without any problems. When he's in good physical condition, he has the ability to play not only for Brazil but for any team in the world, thanks to his talent."
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker last wore the Brazil shirt in October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee ligament injury that hampered his attempts to return to the pitch.
Brazil enters tomorrow's match in high spirits following their emphatic 5-0 victory over South Korea last Friday, a performance that demonstrated the team's ability to delight fans with "beautiful football."
However, Ancelotti emphasized that balance and teamwork remain paramount, saying: "The Brazilian national team wants to play beautiful football and they can play it, yes, but it depends on what you mean by beautiful football. Of course, the players have individual quality and commitment. We have to play well with and without the ball, and that's an important aspect."
The Italian coach, who took over as Brazil's coach last May after a difficult qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, prioritized style and adaptability in the limited time before the tournament, which will be held in North America.
Since Ancelotti took over, Brazil has won three games, drawn once, and lost once.
Under Ancelotti, Brazil has become more defensively solid, conceding only one penalty against Bolivia while scoring nine goals.
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