Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar can be an important part of his team for next year's World Cup , but he first needs to prove he is in "good physical condition."

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, hasn't played for the national team since October 2023, when he tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee.

The 33-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward was excluded from both of Ancelotti's Brazil squads so far amid ongoing injury issues since his return to boyhood club Santos in January.

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Neymar has disputed Ancelotti's account that he was omitted from the squad for Sept

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