Neymar has been in the spotlight, though for the wrong reasons-or at least, not the ones anyone expected. His physical condition and his recent absence from Brazil and Santos FC squads have been the subject of much discussion. However, amid the controversy, a former World Cup champion has come out to publicly support him.
The legendary former Canarinha forward, Ronaldo Nazrio, defended Neymar’s place in the 2026 World Cup and assured that his quality remains unquestionable.
Ronaldo supports Neymar
A muscle strain caused by excessive fatigue in training recently sidelined him from the Santos vs. Mirassol match. Although he later played two consecutive games (against Corinthians and Internacional), Cuca, the team’s new coach following the dismissal of Juan Pablo Vojvoda, made a joint decision with the forward to sit him out of the match against Cruzeiro, so as not to expose him to an even more serious injury.
This came after his absence from Carlo Ancelotti’s roster for Brazil’s friendly matches against Croatia and France on March 26 and 31 ahead of the World Cup, casting doubt on his participation in the tournament.
In light of this, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazrio has stated that the Santos star must be among the players traveling to the United States, Mexico, and Canada in June.
“Lately, Neymar has been dealing with some serious injuries, but we don’t need to know him well to call him up for the World Cup. There are many players who could be called up. If he’s in good physical shape, I’d call him up,” he told CNN Brasil.
Ronaldo also tempered expectations regarding his role on the team. He believes that Neymar might not be the team’s undisputed leader, but he is a key player, capable of bringing leadership and talent in moments of pressure: “He may be a useful player who might not play every game or every minute, but technically he is very important and has proven his worth wherever he has been,” he said.
Finally, the Brazilian icon agreed with Carletto’s idea of considering him if he is in top condition to play in another World Cup-an absolute requirement that the Italian coach has reiterated on multiple occasions: “I hope he’s in good physical shape and available for Ancelotti. If he’s in shape, I’m sure he’ll take him to the World Cup,” Nazrio said.
Meanwhile, his inclusion will not only depend on Ancelotti’s decision but will be entirely determined by his performance and physical condition.
With nearly 80 days to go before the World Cup kicks off, only time will tell when we’ll see Neymar again at soccer’s biggest tournament.
