Kylian Mbappé, the star of France, finds it hard to picture his former Paris Saint-Germain colleague Neymar missing the World Cup.
Injuries have sidelined Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, from the national team since October 2023.
He is racing against time to recover his fitness ahead of participating in his fourth World Cup this summer.
“The World Cup is a showcase for stars,” Mbappé stated prior to tonight’s World Cup warmup match against Brazil.
“All the stars are present, and in my opinion, Neymar is among the top stars. I cannot envision the World Cup without Neymar. However, ultimately, I must respect my former coach, [Carlo] Ancelotti, and his decision.”
When asked if this Brazil team belongs to Neymar or his Real Madrid teammate Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé responded: “Vini now needs to elevate his game with the national team, but Neymar is Neymar. Neymar is an exceptional player.”
Vinícius, for his part, is hoping for Neymar’s fitness ahead of the World Cup. “The pressure on Ney is normal,” he remarked. “I am biased; Ney is one of my idols. He is doing everything possible to be at 100% and return to the national team.”
“Now, the decision lies with the coach. But we players always wish to compete alongside the best.”
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Vinícius is anticipated to spearhead Brazil’s offense against France. Ancelotti, who will reveal his World Cup roster on May 18, emphasized that Neymar still has a chance to be included if the Santos forward achieves full fitness.
Former Brazil legends have weighed in on whether Ancelotti should select Neymar even if he is not at his peak performance.
Regarding the ongoing discussion about Neymar’s absence, Ancelotti stated on Wednesday: “I observe everything, I listen to everything. However, my responsibility is to make decisions. It is natural for everyone to have an opinion, as football is not an exact science.”
“Everyone has their perspective, and I must respect each opinion.”
