The figure of Neymar returned to be installed in the center of the Brazilian football debate just more than a year from the 2026 World Cup. This time it was Romario, world champion with Bra sil in 1994, who publicly defended the presence of the Santos forward in the next World Cup and asked that Carlo Ancelotti includes him in the final callup.

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The historic former striker considers that the attacker still has conditions to contribute to the national team, despite the fact that he's not going through his best physical nor football moment since his region I reso to Brazilian football. In statements granted to the Record chain, Romario assured that Neymar continues to be a player capable of making differences in important scenarios.

“Neymar has to go to the World Cup. He can make a difference, is respected and is going to help Brazil,” said the former Barcelona player, whose full interview will be broadcast on Sunday.

Romario's words are added to other voices in Brazilian football that support the continuity of Neymar in the mundi project ready, even although Carlo Ancelotti has maintained a more cautious stance since assuming command of the national team a year ago.

The Italian coach has reiterated on different occasions that he will only take into account footballers who are in physical fullness to play the tournament.

Romario questions the continuity of Ancelotti

Beyond the Neymar case, the former scorer also opinionated on the future of the current Brazilian coach. Romario considered premature for the Brazilian Football Confederation to plan to extend Ancelotti's contract before the 2026 World Cup.

“I wouldn't renew with Ancelotti before the World Cup. I would only renew if he were a champion,” said the former Brazilian soccer player and current senator.

The statements appear in a context of doubts around the competitive level of Brazil against other teams candidates for the title ulo. Romario even placed Canarinha behind several European teams and Argentina in the fight for the next World Cup.

“The Brazilian team is more or less. It is behind Argentina, France, Portugal, Spain and Germany,” he noted.

The 1994 United States World Cup also expressed reservations about the impact that Neymar could generate within the group, especially among the younger footballers who are seeking a role in the national team.

Romario lamented that the presence of the attacker can affect certain internal dynamics related to the ego and coexistence within the locker room. “Those silly vanities exist in football,” he commented.

Despite supporting the call of the Santos forward, the former player was less optimistic when analyzing the individual possibilities of the Brazilian footballers in the World Cup. Romario assured that currently no member of the team is in a condition to become the great figure of the tournament, not not Neymar.

“No one is in a position to be the best in the World Cup, not even Neymar,” he concluded.