Neymar is so unpredictable; what will coach Ancelotti do?

According to Brazilian media, after being called up to the Brazilian national team for the 2026 World Cup, Neymar shocked everyone by announcing that he would be unable to play in the upcoming two matches for Santos due to "discomfort in his calf."

Neymar's fitness remains a serious concern.

Santos FC will play against San Lorenzo in the Copa Sul-Americana on May 21st, and against Gremio in the Campeonato Brasileiro on May 24th. However, Neymar has informed the team that he will be unable to participate in both matches due to calf discomfort he experienced during the 0-3 defeat against Coritiba on May 17th. In that match, Neymar was substituted in the 68th minute due to a referee error while receiving treatment for his calf discomfort on the sidelines.

Neymar, after the joy of participating in the World Cup, is now worried about whether his physical condition can handle playing at a high intensity.

Photo: Reuters

Amidst these developments, Neymar insisted he was not seriously affected and could still play normally. However, after coach Ancelotti announced his name on the 26-player Brazil squad for the World Cup, there were reports that Neymar informed Santos that he needed treatment to fully recover from his calf injury. As a result, he would miss the club's next two matches. He may return to play in Santos' match against Cuenca on May 27th, after which he will join the Brazilian national team.

According to the Spanish newspaper MARCA : "Neymar's injury problems will give coach Ancelotti a headache after the decision to select him for the 2026 World Cup. Neymar returns to the national team after more than two and a half years of absence, a historic comeback, but it will depend on a rigorous fitness training plan due to the recurring injuries the striker has always faced."

"Mr. Ancelotti has made it clear that Neymar's presence is crucial for the Brazilian national team. But at the World Cup, a tournament that always demands high physical fitness and stamina, it's essential to maintain that level throughout."

Neymar is unlikely to meet this requirement, as since recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2023, he has been unable to consistently play the full 90 minutes in every match. The fact that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) medical team must thoroughly assess Neymar before confirming his call-up is still not a guarantee," according to MARCA .

Coach Ancelotti will have to figure out the best way to use Neymar at the 2026 World Cup.

Photo: Reuters

"One of the biggest concerns for the Selecao (Brazilian national team) coaching staff is whether Neymar's joints can withstand the intensity of consecutive matches. Recently, the player himself chose not to participate in several domestic league matches to avoid playing on artificial turf."

At the 2026 World Cup, many stadiums in the US have this type of surface, and are only covered with natural grass about two weeks before the tournament. Furthermore, Neymar's lack of international playing time adds to the pressure, as he will participate in the tournament without having played a single official minute under coach Ancelotti," MARCA emphasized.

What is coach Ancelotti's solution regarding Neymar?

It is likely that coach Ancelotti will have to field Neymar in one or two warm-up matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup to assess his condition, according to MARCA . The Brazilian national team is scheduled to play friendly matches against Panama on June 1st at the Maracana stadium, and against Egypt on May 7th in Cleveland, Ohio (USA).

These are two crucial matches for the Selecao to test their squad and assess the team's fitness before selecting the official lineup for the opening matches in Group C on June 14th.

Coach Ancelotti also outlined a specific management plan for the tournament: In principle, Neymar is not scheduled to play the full matches, but only to act as a game-changer when the game is deadlocked, or to play controlled periods depending on the score, MARCA added.

At the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian national team is in a relatively easy Group C, playing Morocco at 5:00 AM on June 14th, followed by Haiti at 7:30 AM on June 20th, and their final group stage match against Scotland at 5:00 AM on June 25th.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/neymar-rat-kho-hieu-hlv-ancelotti-se-phai-lam-sao-185260520114556568.htm