Neymar’s World Cup Hopes Dim After Subdued Performance in Santos Draw

SÃO PAULO — Neymar’s path to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 took a potential hit after a lackluster performance for Santos in a 1-1 home draw against Corinthians in a Brazilian league match on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The match served as Neymar’s final opportunity to impress Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti before the announcement of his squad for upcoming friendlies. Following the game, a visibly disappointed Neymar acknowledged that his inclusion in the team was not solely his decision. “I wish to proceed back to the national team and play in the World Cup, but that’s not up to me,” he told journalists via Yahoo Sports. “Whether I am there or not, I will always cheer for Brazil.”

Match Recap: Santos and Corinthians Share the Points

The clash at Vila Belmiro saw both teams identify the net in the first half. Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Corinthians in the 19th minute, with Gabriel Barbosa leveling the score just four minutes later. ESPN Brasil reported that Neymar provided an unintentional assist to Gabigol for the equalizer.

Despite playing the full 90 minutes, Neymar struggled to build a significant impact. His best chance came in the second half with a header that narrowly missed the target. He had limited success with the ball at his feet and failed to register a shot on goal.

Ancelotti’s Squad Selection and Neymar’s Fitness

Brazil is scheduled to play friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States as part of their preparations for the World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19. These matches will be crucial for Ancelotti to finalize his squad in May.

Ancelotti has stated his intention to select only players who are fully fit for the tournament. However, he has likewise indicated that some players may not require further evaluation, potentially keeping Neymar’s hopes alive despite not being immediately selected for the upcoming friendlies. Sportstar noted that this performance was Neymar’s last chance to impress before the squad announcement.

Injury Concerns and Recent Form

The 34-year-old Neymar is still recovering from an ACL injury sustained in October 2023, followed by a second knee surgery in December. He has featured in less than 10 matches for Santos this year. Despite this, he has shown flashes of his former brilliance, recently breaking into the top 10 of Santos’ all-time leading scorers after a two-goal performance against Vasco da Gama in February.

However, Neymar’s decision to sit out a recent match against Mirassol reportedly raised concerns, as Ancelotti was not informed of his absence until shortly before the game.

Fans are worried that this absence, coupled with his performance against Corinthians, may jeopardize his chances of appearing in his fourth consecutive World Cup.