Ancelotti confirms end of Neymar era in Brazilian national team

Carlo Ancelotti has ended the speculation: Neymar will no longer wear the Seleção shirt. The Brazilian manager confirmed this Friday at a press conference, without naming the Santos striker but leaving no room for doubt.

The Round of 16 match at the 2026 World Cup, lost 2-1 to Norway, will likely remain Neymar’s last appearance in the yellow and green. The former Real Madrid coach, who took charge of the national team in the summer of 2025, has drawn a clear line between past and future. “The World Cup closed a cycle for a generation of players. We are now building a new generation to be focused and competitive in our next official competitions: Copa America 2028 and the World Cup 2030.”

Unlike Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who both officially announced the end of their international careers, Neymar has not yet spoken publicly on the matter. Ancelotti, however, did not wait for such a statement to turn the page.

The Italian has shown confidence in Brazilian youth, from whom he expects much for the upcoming tournaments. “They have all given us great satisfaction for the future,” he said, signaling that young players will now be at the heart of his project.

For this November international window, Brazil plays two friendlies in Asia: against Japan this Saturday, then against Singapore on November 17. These matches will concretely mark the beginning of this new era.