Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has spoken publicly about Neymar’s retirement from international football, firmly backing his decision to take the experienced forward in his 2026 World Cup squad. The Italian manager admitted the attacker’s physical preparation had been a frustration, but maintained that his presence was important for the Selecao.

Ancelotti remains convinced about selecting the veteran

Neymar has now officially ended a remarkable 16-year international career. The 34-year-old took the call after Brazil’s painful World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Norway. In spite of that early elimination, Ancelotti was adamant that the former Barcelona star deserved his place on the flight to North America.

Frustration over physical readiness

The Italian coach accepted that Neymar had to deal with major difficulties, especially with his match sharpness and a grade 2 calf strain that ruled him out of the opening group-stage matches against Morocco and Haiti. "I think he didn’t contribute on a technical level as it was hoped he could, because he couldn’t," Ancelotti told ESPN. "But, in terms of attitude, it was a very positive attitude. I have a lot of affection for him, I thanked him for his attitude, for his behavior, and I think it was the right decision to include him on the 26-man roster."

Although the Brazil boss praised Neymar’s leadership and professionalism away from the pitch, he also made no attempt to hide his disappointment over the player’s physical state in the build-up to the tournament.

"The only thing that bothered me is that Neymar could have prepared himself better during that lead-up period," Ancelotti added. "He could have been ready for game one instead of game four. That was the only disappointing part."

The beginning of a new era

With Brazil’s talismanic number 10 now stepping away, Ancelotti is turning his attention to a full rebuild of the programme before the 2030 World Cup. The change signals a major shift in Brazil’s football thinking, moving away from dependence on the icons of the 2010s and towards the next generation of talent.

"I think that players like Neymar, who already commented yesterday, and with all due respect to his decision. I believe that in history, one generation ends and another has to come, and it has to be better than the last one," the former Real Madrid manager said.

Further senior departures expected

Neymar is not the only big-name figure who could be leaving the international stage. Ancelotti suggested that a number of other long-serving Brazil players may also be nearing the end of their time with the national team.

When asked about the futures of Casemiro, Danilo and Alex Sandro, Ancelotti gave an honest assessment of the ageing squad. "I think so. It is a period that is coming to an end. Obviously, we have to thank all of them, and I have a lot of affection for all of them. But I think the idea that a player over 30 is done means that we have to think about the future.... Some of these players will be there, obviously. Marquinhos, for example. Alisson, we’ll see."