Neymar Left Out of Brazil's Squad for Upcoming Friendlies

Neymar, Brazil's iconic forward, has been excluded from the national squad for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia, as announced by Coach Carlo Ancelotti on Monday. Brazil continues their 2026 World Cup preparations without their all-time leading scorer due to his recent muscle fatigue and recovery issues following an October 2023 knee injury.

The exclusion comes after Neymar missed a Santos FC match, prompting Ancelotti to evaluate the player's fitness. 'Neymar can be at the World Cup if he's 100%,' stated Ancelotti. He emphasized the need for Neymar to achieve full fitness before being reconsidered for future matches.

In Neymar's absence, the spotlight shifts to 19-year-old Endrick, making a comeback to international play after a year, and the new addition of Brentford's Igor Thiago, as Brazil seeks to rejuvenate their attacking lineup for the World Cup.