JAKARTA - Brazil striker Neymar has denied criticism that continues to question his fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He was again cut from the Samba Team squad for the two FIFA Matchday March 2026 friendly matches against France and Croatia.
Neymar was not included in the Santos squad during the league match which ended in a 2-2 draw against Mirassol on March 11, 2026 which was attended by the Brazilian National Team (Timnas) Manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
However, he played 90 minutes in the next two matches as Santos drew with Corinthians (1-1) and lost to Internacional (1-2), which was watched by two of Ancelotti's staff.
Santos coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda denied speculation that Neymar was injured and said the reason the forward was rested midweek was to manage his workload.
"He didn't have any injuries or anything. He didn't feel any pain. It's true, he's been an inactive player for the last few years, so we have to keep his workload under control," Vojvoda said of Neymar.
Neymar then used social media to set the record straight.
"Because a lot of people make theories about what happened to me, I say that nothing happened. If I played in a state of injury, as they said last year, it was wrong. If I only think about myself, it's wrong."
"If I relax, it's wrong. If I play with pain or something that can aggravate it, it's wrong. Complicated, yeah? It's hard to do the right thing, man. It's hard, it's hard to please everyone."
"The most shocking thing to me, I mean, it's not shocking to me, but people, people who seem to be on my side every day and start making up stories, saying this, as if it were the greatest truth in the world."
"It's like they're the owners of common sense. It's complicated to be me, astaga. I have to be patient with you guys, you know?" wrote Neymar.
The 34-year-old returned to play for Santos last month after undergoing minor left knee surgery on December 22, 2025.
He is focused on earning a place in the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup.
"I want to say that he is a very important player for all of Brazil. He is preparing himself. He is a decisive player for Santos and he will respond."
"When I see him training, I feel something special. There are not many players like him and we have to keep this type of player," said Vojvoda.
Currently, Neymar only wants to focus on improving his fitness condition so that Ancelotti can take a look at him. He also doesn't want to fantasize because the selection of players for the Brazilian National Team is not his authority.
"I want to return to the Brazilian national team and play in the 2026 World Cup, but that's not my authority. Whether I'm there or not, I'll always support Brazil," said Neymar.
Ancelotti has said he will only take players who are 100 percent fit to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
He also stated that some players did not need to undergo tests, which gave Neymar hope of being included in the final squad despite not being selected for the next two friendly matches.
Neymar suffered an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury in October 2023 and underwent knee surgery again in December 2025.
He has played less than 10 games for Santos this year, but he has also shown glimpses of what he can still give to Brazil.
In February 2026, he entered the top 10 all-time scorers for Santos after scoring two goals in a 2-1 win against Vasco da Gama in the league.
Although injuries have limited Neymar from playing for Brazil, he is his country's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals.
Meanwhile, Brazil's matches against France and Croatia in the United States will be the last two matches before Ancelotti announces his final squad in May 2026 for the 2026 World Cup, which takes place from June 11 to July 19.
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