Neymar left out of Brazil squad for upcoming friendlies

Brazilian forward Neymar has been excluded from the national team roster for upcoming friendly matches against France and Croatia, scheduled for March 27 and 31. This decision was made by head coach Carlo Ancelotti as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Neymar, who is the all-time leading scorer for the Selecao with 79 goals, has not played for the national team since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023. Although he has returned to training, he remains sidelined from international duties. The player expressed disappointment at his exclusion but noted he is committed to his training regimen. Ancelotti has not ruled out Neymar for the final World Cup squad, provided he reaches full fitness. The final squad list for the tournament is expected to be announced in May.