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Will Neymar don Brazil’s iconic blue and yellow at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

That question has been on the minds of fans of the five-time world champions as the tournament, set to begin on June 11 across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, draws closer.

Until recently, there was little reason for optimism among Neymar supporters. But in an interview with L’Equipe, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has reopened the door, suggesting the forward still has two months to prove he deserves a place in his 26-man squad.

Although Ancelotti has consistently maintained that Neymar would be considered if fully fit, the attacker was left out of Brazil’s squad for last month’s warm-up matches against France and Croatia -- which were Brazil’s last international matches before the squad announcement.

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, Neymar has not featured for the national team since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023. Since returning to Santos FC last year, he has struggled to put together a consistent run of matches -- factors that have cast doubt over his chances of appearing at a fourth World Cup.

However, Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to France in Boston saw fans once again chant Neymar’s name. At the time, Ancelotti played down the reaction, insisting the focus should remain on the selected players.

Now, though, the Italian has indicated that the Santos forward remains in his plans as Brazil weigh their options ahead of the World Cup.

“He’s a great talent, and it’s normal that people think he can help us win the next World Cup,” Ancelotti said.

“He’s being evaluated by the CBF and by me, and he still has two months to show he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup.

“After his knee injury, Neymar has made a good comeback; he’s scoring goals. He needs to continue in this direction and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.”

Injury concerns have limited Neymar to just six appearances in Santos’s 20 matches across all competitions this season. While his return of three goals and three assists remains respectable, questions persist over whether he can be the answer for Brazil as they chase a sixth World Cup title after a 24-year wait.

The pressure on Ancelotti is significant. Failure in North America would leave Brazil with their longest World Cup title drought, surpassing the gap between their 1970 and 1994 triumphs.

For now, Neymar’s place on football’s biggest stage remains uncertain. But Ancelotti’s words have at least given fans renewed hope that the 34-year-old can make his case as time continues to tick.