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Carlo Ancelotti has offered a frank evaluation of his current Brazil squad, noting that the Selecao no longer possess the individual icons that once defined their teams. The Italian coach believes that the five-time world champions must now rely on teamwork rather than expecting a single player to inspire them to World Cup glory.

Teamwork Over Individual Stardom

Brazil head coach Ancelotti has downplayed the notion that his current lineup includes a standout player of the calibre of the nation’s past greats. Speaking ahead of a friendly against Panama at the Maracana Stadium, the former Real Madrid manager emphasised that success on the world stage would depend on collective effort, not individual brilliance.

“The more experienced players should shoulder greater responsibility, while the younger ones need to feel less pressure. We all carry a lot of responsibility and pressure—so what’s the solution? We must share it. It can’t be an individual burden; sharing it will make it lighter,” Ancelotti told the media. “Sometimes we hear that Brazil doesn’t have a star. It might be true—we don’t have Pele, Romario, or Ronaldo—but we can have shared responsibility.”

He continued: “We’ve worked a lot on our defence and will continue to do so. I don’t want to restrict the creativity of our attacking players—they have immense quality, and I don’t want to confuse them. Defensively, it’s a constant focus, right up to the last match of the World Cup. Our preparation is centred on that. The defenders, full-backs, and midfielders all play vital roles.”

The Neymar Fitness Puzzle

Even as Ancelotti calls for a team-oriented mindset, Neymar’s fitness remains the major concern surrounding the Brazil camp. The Selecao face tremendous pressure to reclaim their past dominance after being knocked out in the quarter-finals of the last two World Cups, with their most recent title win coming in 2002. The former Santos star, who is still the nation’s all-time top scorer, is currently recovering from a grade two calf injury and has not been able to train with the ball in full sessions.

The injury has triggered speculation about his availability for Brazil’s World Cup opener in New Jersey on June 13. Though Ancelotti had earlier declared he would only select players who were fully fit, he has made an exception for his influential No.10, whose rehabilitation continues in close coordination with medical updates from Santos.

Ancelotti Explains His Selection Logic

Clarifying his choice to include Neymar despite his earlier firm stance on fitness, Ancelotti said there was more nuance to his previous remarks. He is counting on the vast experience of the veteran forward, who has 128 caps for Brazil and 79 international goals to his name. Across the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, Neymar has featured in 13 matches and scored eight times. The Italian manager remains optimistic that Neymar will regain full form when it matters most, even if he misses some of the preparatory phase.

“I mentioned in March that everyone should be 100% fit, but maybe I didn’t clarify that I could pick a player who wasn’t 100% at that moment but could reach full fitness by the World Cup. We lost Militao, Rodrygo, and Estevao, but Neymar will be 100%,” Ancelotti told reporters.

Deflecting Pressure with Italian Humour

When asked whether he regretted selecting Neymar given the injury risks, Ancelotti responded with characteristic Italian wit, using a well-known proverb to brush aside the question. With Brazil drawn in Group C alongside Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti, the Italian coach asserted that Neymar’s inclusion was never in doubt once the final squad list was finalised.

“You know what we say in Italy? If my grandmother had wheels, she’d be a car. When I arrived at the museum to announce the squad, Neymar was already among the 26,” Ancelotti quipped.