Overview

• Neymar said he recently had an adductor edema yet played for his club and argued his exclusion was a technical call rather than a fitness issue.
• Carlo Ancelotti reiterated that selections hinge on daily assessments of players’ physical condition and on whether they contribute to the collective over individualism.
• Responding to Neymar’s comments, Ancelotti said the decision reflects many factors, including current form, past performance and recent physical problems.
• Ancelotti stated he will not phone players to justify choices and invited them to contact him, adding he believes Neymar has his number.
• With Brazil already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, Ancelotti is using the Chile (Sept. 4, Maracanã) and Bolivia (Sept. 9, El Alto) matches to evaluate depth, noting roughly 70 players are in contention.