Relieving news comes from the Brazilian national team camp ahead of the crucial round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has officially confirmed that their star player, Neymar, has now fully recovered from a right calf injury that had limited his playing time throughout the group stage.
Although he only played for 14 minutes as a substitute in the match against Scotland, Ancelotti emphasized that Neymar now has the physical stamina to play a full 90 minutes. This confirmation is a major moral boost for the Samba squad, who are chasing a quarter-final ticket.
Ancelotti admitted that the 34-year-old player had shown frustration due to the lack of playing time. However, the Italian coach viewed this internal struggle as normal for a world-class player with great ambition, even praising Neymar's professionalism in responding to his situation on the bench.
"He has the experience to manage the tempo of the game. When I feel the team needs him, I will play him. What is certain is that he is now physically ready to play a full match," Ancelotti said in his statement to the media.
Looking ahead to the duel against Norway, Brazil is predicted to rely on the combination of Neymar's creativity and Vinicius Junior's impressive performance. In addition to neutralizing the threat of striker Erling Haaland, the Seleção are required to capitalize on the match's momentum to maintain their unbeaten record in their last seven matches across all competitions.
