Brazil head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has said Neymar cannot be replaced in the national team, while insisting that the side must focus on developing a new generation of players ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
Ancelotti said Neymar deserved to be part of Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup because of his exceptional abilities, but revealed that the forward had already decided against returning to international football.
“Neymar deserved to go to the World Cup. He cannot be replaced, he is a one-of-a-kind player thanks to his abilities.”
With Neymar’s international future seemingly settled, Ancelotti said Brazil would now place greater emphasis on younger players, particularly those born in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
He also said the coaching staff was monitoring talented players born in 2008 who have yet to establish themselves at senior level.
“We have young players born in 2008 who possess a lot of quality, and they are not playing yet, but they are capable of playing. Now is the right time to monitor them, taking into account their ages as well. It is true that a player can deliver a very good level even at the age of 36 or 37. But now is the right time to give priority to young players.”
The Italian said Brazil’s senior team was working with the coaches of the under-20 and under-17 sides to coordinate the development of young talents across different competitions.
“The Olympic Games are extremely important, as is the Copa América. We have to follow these young players throughout the stages of their development, because a player’s club objectives do not always match those of the Brazil national team.”
Ancelotti also stressed that Brazil must build a team based on collective strength rather than depending on an individual star.
“I believe that in modern football you need collective play, not individual talent. Of course, if you have great individual talent, your chances of winning are greater, but modern football does not allow for the absence of collective play. We are working on building a strong team for the future, not on focusing on one great individual talent.”
Reflecting on Brazil’s disappointing World Cup campaign, Ancelotti said the team had to move forward and use upcoming friendly matches to assess emerging talents.
“I think the World Cup was disappointing, and we feel sorry about it, but we now have to look ahead. We have the time to prepare a new generation of players.”
He added, “We will now make use of the friendly matches to see the new young talents that Brazilian football is producing. I believe Brazil should be among the best national teams in the world. We were not able to achieve that, and that is why we have to improve our levels in order to be better at the next World Cup.”
Brazil are scheduled to face Australia in two friendlies on September 25 and 29 before taking on India on October 3.
