Neymar Jr. set to compete with Vinicius Jr, and Raphinha for a starting role in Brazil, says Carlo Ancelotti

After rediscovering his form at Santos FC, Neymar Jr. has been called back by Carlo Ancelotti for the 2026 World Cup. Despite this, his presence at the tournament appeared to be in doubt due to a calf injury. In response, Brazil’s head coach has decided to reaffirm the 34-year-old star’s place in the squad. However, he has revealed that the veteran forward will have to compete with Vinícius Jr. and Raphinha for a spot in the starting lineup.

“Neymar Jr. has to play in the position that suits him best. It’s through the middle; he can’t play out wide… He won’t play as a winger, but rather through the center of the pitch, either as a striker or an attacking midfielder. That’s the position where Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha played today. He would play in one of those positions,” Carlo Ancelotti said in the latest press conference.

Heading into the 2026 World Cup, Ancelotti appears determined to rely on a lineup featuring Vinícius and Raphinha behind the two strikers. Rather than using them as traditional wingers staying close to the touchline, both players seem set to have greater involvement in the team’s central play, complicating Neymar’s chances. Not being a player particularly known for his pace or high pressing, the 34-year-old star appears destined for a fairly secondary role.

Not only would he have to compete with Vinícius and Raphinha, but also with Endrick and Rayan. As two highly promising young talents, they have shown the ability to provide Brazil with a different dimension, adding pace and explosiveness to the team’s play. Against defensive opponents such as Haiti or Scotland, Carlo Ancelotti could prefer players capable of breaking lines with their speed, potentially leaving Neymar without a place in the rotation.

Neymar Jr. faces a race against time for the 2026 World Cup

Neymar regained his physical consistency at Santos, becoming a regular presence in the team despite ongoing load management. However, he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 calf injury upon arriving at Brazil’s camp. While Ancelotti decided not to rule him out of the 2026 World Cup, he still faces significant uncertainty regarding his recovery. With only a few weeks remaining before the tournament begins, he appears likely to miss the opening match against Morocco.

Despite his possible absence from the national team’s opener, he could still feature during the group stage. In the most optimistic scenarios, the 34-year-old star would be fit in time to face Haiti in the second match. However, more pessimistic projections suggest he may only recover in time to play against Scotland, and only for a limited number of minutes. As a result, Neymar appears to be in a race against time.

In case Brazil advance to the knockout stages, Neymar could take on a much more prominent role. While he no longer possesses the pace of players such as Vinícius Júnior or Raphinha, he could provide a significant creative boost, unlocking difficult matches through key passes and his collective vision of the game. However, that will depend entirely on his recovery, which will need to be highly effective.