Kylian Mbappe comments on Neymar's absence from the Brazil national team

In a recent statement given to Globoesporte prior to a friendly match between France and Brazil, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe addressed the absence of 33-year-old Neymar from the Brazilian national team. Mbappe described Neymar as a fantastic player and noted that he finds it difficult to imagine a FIFA World Cup without him. When asked whether the Brazil team currently belongs to Vinicius Junior or still centers around Neymar, the French forward suggested it could belong to both. He encouraged Vinicius to continue his progression with the national team but maintained that Neymar remains a star player. Regarding the current roster selection, Mbappe stated he must respect the decisions made by Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti. Despite his exclusion from recent squads, Mbappe expressed his belief that Neymar could be prepared for the 2026 World Cup. The two players previously shared the pitch as teammates during their time at Paris Saint-Germain.