Fernando Velloso Slams Carlo Ancelotti for Selecting Neymar Over João Pedro in Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad

Former Brazil international goalkeeper Fernando Velloso has launched a sharp public attack on national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti following the Italian’s decision to name Neymar in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling the selection an act of capitulation to public pressure.

Speaking on the Novabrasil em campo radio programme, Velloso was unequivocal in his opposition to the inclusion of the veteran forward, reserving particular criticism for the omission of Chelsea striker João Pedro. “I would not call up Neymar for the World Cup. To take Neymar and not take Pedro is an absurdity of those that football allows,” Velloso stated, according to Goal. “Pedro is the top scorer of everything. Neymar cannot even play against Recoleta.”

Velloso went further, alleging that Neymar, who returned to boyhood club Santos earlier in his recovery from injury, had been strategically selective in choosing which matches to participate in ahead of the squad announcement. “Neymar chose the matches. He didn’t play against Palmeiras, Flamengo, Bahia, but he played against Recoleta, Red Bull Bragantino… only against the weak teams, to try to make a difference. And he didn’t do it,” the retired shot-stopper argued, per Goal.

The criticism centres on the perception that Neymar, now 34, has deliberately avoided high-intensity domestic fixtures since returning to Santos in order to manage his fitness and present a curated image of form to the national coaching staff. Velloso characterised the final squad selection as a “complete travesty.”

Ancelotti has not denied the influence of external forces on his decision. The Real Madrid manager publicly acknowledged feeling the weight of sentiment surrounding Neymar, noting that affection within the dressing room for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward played a role in the deliberations. While Neymar drew widespread support from a significant portion of Brazilian football supporters, Velloso’s response reflects a vocal minority that prioritises current form over reputation.

João Pedro, who has established himself as one of the most productive Brazilian attackers in European football this season, was among several in-form players to miss out on the final squad. Richarlison and Antony were also notably absent from Ancelotti’s selection, adding further fuel to the debate over the criteria applied in assembling the squad.

Neymar has endured a prolonged and difficult period with injuries, most notably a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in October 2023 while on international duty with Brazil. His return to Santos represented his first sustained period of club football in over a year, though the level of competition he faced in that time has now drawn scrutiny.

Brazil have not won the FIFA World Cup since their fifth triumph in 2002 and arrive at the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, under considerable expectations. Ancelotti, who took charge of the Seleção in 2024 after departing Real Madrid, faces the challenge of balancing squad morale with competitive selection ahead of a tournament where Brazil are widely regarded as contenders. The tension between sentiment and merit in Neymar’s inclusion is likely to remain a talking point as the tournament approaches.