Neymar has reiterated his great desire to represent Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, while anxiously awaiting the release of Carlo Ancelotti's list.
The Santos star also spoke about the yellow Brazil jacket he wore after the last match, revealing it was a personal gift from Romeo Beckham, the son of Sir David Beckham.
Neymar drew attention after Santos' 3-0 defeat to Coritiba in Brazilian Serie A on Sunday when he appeared in the mixed zone wearing a green and yellow jacket. Many fans interpreted it as an open message to the national team, but the 34-year-old clarified that he had no such background.
"This jacket was a gift from a friend of mine, Beckham's son, Romeo Beckham," Neymar told reporters. "He even wrote something here about the Olympics. I told him I would wear it. That's why I wore it, not to send a message."
However, Neymar did not hide that he is excitedly awaiting the Brazil roster.
"Everyone is waiting for this, waiting for the call tomorrow. Why shouldn't I wear it? Besides being a player, I want to be there. If I'm not, I'll just be another person cheering for Brazil at the World Cup," he added.
Although the jacket was simply a gift between friends, Neymar's ambition for the "Selecao" remains very serious. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has gone through a difficult road to recovery, but continues to aim to participate in the 2026 World Cup. He admitted that the idea of playing in another World Cup has been the main motivation during the long months of rehabilitation.
"Of course, it's my dream. I've always made it very clear to you. I want to be at the World Cup. I've worked for it," Neymar said.
For more than a decade, Neymar has been Brazil's leading figure. He has even surpassed the legendary Pele as the top scorer in the history of the national team, so whether or not he should be included in the list remains one of the biggest topics of debate in Brazil.
The road to the 2026 World Cup has not been easy for the Santos forward, who has faced constant doubts about his fitness. With Ancelotti expected to prioritise players in top form, Neymar must show he can still compete at the highest level.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the way his recovery has been talked about, but insisted that he is finding his rhythm on the field again.
"Physically I feel very good. I've been improving from match to match and I did the best I could. I admit it wasn't easy," he said.
Neymar also responded to critics who have questioned his commitment during his time off the field.
"There have been years of hard work, but also a lot of misinformation about my condition and what I was doing. It's very sad the way people talk about it. I worked hard, in silence, at home, suffering from what was said," the Brazilian declared.
His comments came after a disappointing afternoon on the pitch. A bizarre administrative error saw Neymar incorrectly substituted, leaving him fuming, as Santos were beaten 3-0 by Coritiba.
Despite the club's difficulties, Neymar hopes his individual efforts will be enough to convince Ancelotti. "Let what God wants happen tomorrow. Whatever happens, Ancelotti will call up the 26 best players for this battle," Neymar concluded. /GazetaExpress/
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