Copa do Brasil

While the star remains focused on his objective of reaching full fitness with Santos, Neymar's father and agent is reportedly set to hold talks with FC Cincinnati representatives to complete his move to the MLS. Neymar has been linked with a blockbuster move to Major League Soccer, with FC Cincinnati emerging as the frontrunner to land his signature. While the Brazilian star continues working his way back to full fitness at Santos, his agent is reportedly set to hold talks with Cincinnati over a potential deal. According to ESPN Brasil, Neymar’s father, who also serves as his agent and the primary manager of his business affairs, is awaiting a face-to-face meeting with FC Cincinnati to move the conversation forward. With the MLS club’s interest in the former Barcelona star confirmed as genuine, the meeting would represent a significant step in the early stages of negotiations. The outlet reports that Neymar’s entourage intends to hold the meeting with Cincinnati’s representatives in person. While financial terms have not yet been disclosed, the primary objective of the gathering is to assess the viability of a deal, covering salary expectations and bonus structures. The meeting is expected to take place in the coming days, with Cincinnati’s delegation aiming to make their case for Neymar to join the league after the World Cup, regardless of whether he ultimately features in the tournament. Club president and owner Jeff Berding and sporting director Chris Albright are among those set to make the trip, accompanied by a team of image rights specialists to help advance the discussions. Neymar Junior of Santos competes for the ball with Ruan of Atletico Mineiro. Neymar focused on returning to fitness While speculation over his future continues to swirl, Neymar’s attention for now remains firmly on getting back to peak condition and earning a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup. Despite the noise surrounding his next move, the forward took the field for Santos last Saturday in a 1-0 win over Atletico Mineiro. In an encouraging sign on the fitness front, Santos head coach Cuca expressed confidence that Neymar will be available for every upcoming fixture. “Neymar filled his tank, and Gabigol did too. They performed well in the match. It might have been their best game in terms of competitive and physical levels,” Cuca said after Saturday’s win. “The trend is for him to keep playing; he doesn’t need to play the full 90 minutes. We’ll manage his workload so they are ready to go every three days,” the coach added. Santos face Recoleta on Tuesday in the Copa Sudamericana, followed by Fluminense next Sunday and Coritiba on the 22nd in the Copa do Brasil. The optimism comes at a critical time, as questions have lingered over whether Neymar would be able to withstand the physical demands of a World Cup, where teams can be required to play every three to four days. Notably, Neymar has not played four matches within a three-day window since July of last year, making the upcoming fixture run a significant test for a player who was once considered among the very best in the world.

Carlo Ancelotti’s son and assistant with the Brazil national team delivered an encouraging message for Neymar ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With a little over two months to go before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Brazil still face a major question mark regarding Neymar’s potential inclusion in the squad. Now, Carlo Ancelotti’s son and assistant has delivered an encouraging message for the forward. “Of course, he is the top scorer of the national team and he has a chance,” Davide Ancelotti said during a recent interview with BBC Sport. “He has time to do his best and try to get into the list.” These comments make it clear that Neymar is still in the coach’s plans, but his inclusion will depend on his performances at club level over the coming months, as well as his physical consistency. Davide also spoke about the timeline for finalizing the squad that will travel to North America. “The final list will be out on May 18,” said Carlo Ancelotti’s son, revealing that the roster will be announced even before FIFA’s official May 30 deadline. “At the end, it is a decision of the manager that he will take and he has time to take it.” Neymar’s last appearance for Brazil came in October 2023. How many games does Neymar have left before the World Cup? Since there will be no more FIFA international breaks before May 18, Neymar’s chances of making the World Cup squad will depend entirely on his club performances. In that sense, Santos will compete in three different tournaments over the next two months, giving the forward plenty of opportunities to impress. On one hand, the club will continue its Brazilian Serie A campaign. The league has already completed 10 rounds, with Santos sitting 15th in the standings on just 10 points. Before the World Cup break, they will play eight more league matches. In addition, the club will also look to progress in the Copa do Brasil, where they will face Coritiba in the fifth round in a two-legged tie scheduled for April 22 and May 13. Meanwhile, Santos are also competing in the Copa Sudamericana, where they opened their campaign with a 1–0 defeat against Deportivo Cuenca of Ecuador. They still have five group-stage matches remaining. In total, that brings the count to 15 matches before the World Cup, during which Neymar will look to prove himself to Ancelotti. Neymar’s importance for Brazil It is not a minor detail that Davide Ancelotti highlighted Neymar’s status as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer. Carlo Ancelotti’s son made it clear that they are fully aware of the forward’s historical importance at international level, and that experience could prove decisive in key moments. Neymar has scored 79 goals in 129 appearances for Brazil from his debut in 2010 through his most recent match in 2023. That puts him at the top of the national team’s scoring chart, ahead of none other than Pele, who scored 77. The top five is completed by Ronaldo Nazario (62), Romario (55), and Zico (48).

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