Neymar Denies Injury Is The Reason To Be Removed From Brazil's National Team

JAKARTA - Neymar denied Carlo Ancelotti's claim that the injury was the reason the attacker was not included in the Brazil National Team (Timnas) squad for the Conmebol Zone 2026 World Cup Qualification this week.

Ancelotti last week blamed the minor injury as an excuse for not calling the Santos star.

The Italian coach said there was no need to test the veteran and Neymar needed to be in good physical condition to consider being selected.

Speaking after the result of the Santos series against Fluminense 0-0 in Brazil's Serie A on Monday, September 1, 2025 morning WIB--where he played 90 minutes--Neymar gave his views.

"I had a bit of swelling in my director, a little uncomfortable, but it wasn't serious so I played today".

"I'm actually not going to play against Bahia (on August 24, 2025). So, they chose to save some training sessions so I could miss and recover."

"I was dropped for technical reasons, it has nothing to do with my physical condition. That's the coach's opinion and I respect it. Because I am absent, we only need to support the team," said Neymar as quoted by ESPN.

Brazil will host Chile on Friday, September 5, 2025 WIB, and then travel to Bolivia on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in the last 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

Ancelotti's team is currently in third place in the 2026 Conmebol Zone World Cup Qualification standings, with 25 points, the same as Ecuador, and behind leaders Argentina. Uruguay and Paraguay under the Samba Team are only one point adrift.

Even so, Brazil has certainly qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals. This means that they are no longer likely to be thrown out of the top six of the standings.

For information, only the top six teams get tickets to the 2026 World Cup finals which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Ancelotti has announced 25 players who will compete for the last two 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, including Estevoo, Gabriel Martinelli, Joao Pedro, Kaio Jorge, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, and Richarlison.

In Ancelotti's first two matches in June 2025, Brazil drew 0-0 against Ecuador and beat Paraguay 1-0.