Debate about Neymar intensifies in Brazil with public criticism and shielding of the team before the debut
Even without taking the field, striker Neymar became one of the most discussed topics in the tournament. His injury absence, the decision to call him up and coach Carlo Ancelotti’s management of his case fueled deep controversy. The discussion divides the country between defenders and critics of the number 10’s presence in the national team. However, the general perception points to a widespread permission to question the player.
The controversy gained prominence with a statement by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. During an event in Belo Horizonte, when asking a child about the team’s best player, Lula reacted ironically after mentioning Neymar, saying that “Neymar isn’t even playing” and that he is “the first team player to train at home”. This observation, which some interpret as a political jab, intensified the debate. Furthermore, José Boto, Flamengo’s sporting director, openly criticized the athlete’s call-up, questioning how a player with only two recent performances can be called up, comparing him to Pedro, top scorer in the Brazilian Championship.
“I can’t understand how an athlete who participated in just two matches in the last two months is called up,” declared José Boto, Flamengo’s sporting director.
While Neymar dedicates himself to recovering from the muscle injury that ruled him out of Brazil’s first two games, critical analysis regarding his physical condition and his place in the team persists. Questions about his pace of play, injury history and starting position in the national team have fueled a constant debate for several weeks. However, behind the scenes of the national team, the view of the player is completely different, marked by trust.
Neymar’s trajectory in his parallel World Cup
Carlo Ancelotti has been a constant defender of the number 10. The Italian coach has always reiterated that the call-up was purely technical and maintained faith in the athlete, even when the injury turned out to be more serious than the initial diagnosis by Santos’ medical department. Before the championship, Ancelotti had declared that Neymar would have two months to demonstrate his skills for the next World Cup. With the call-up confirmed, the message was that he is an important and fundamental player, with the same responsibilities as other athletes. After confirming the injury, the coach also directed a subtle criticism to the press, stating that there was no intention of replacing any player.
Recently, Ancelotti confirmed the player’s availability, indicating that “he is available to play against Scotland”. Each public appearance of the coach has served to strengthen Neymar’s image. Shortly before the clash with Scotland, Ancelotti announced the striker’s return schedule: “He will train individually tomorrow, on Monday he will train with the rest of the team and will be available for the game against Scotland”, detailed the coach after the 3-0 victory over the same team. Despite the statements, the narrative around Neymar continues to evolve.
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The unconditional support coming from the national team’s locker room
For a long period, Neymar was often criticized for his protagonism. His behaviors, injuries, career decisions and even his political views were constant targets of scrutiny. In Brazil, few athletes arouse such polarization, and Neymar never reached the same level of unanimity as other national sporting legends. However, this dynamic is drastically reversed when analyzing the internal environment of the Brazilian team.
“Neymar is our idol. I used to talk to Neymar in every call-up. He always told me: ‘Wow, Ancelotti didn’t call me up again, I’m very sad'”, revealed Vinícius Jr., number 7 of the team.
During a recent training session open to the press, Vinícius was spotted accompanying Neymar, interacting and celebrating his return to group activities, which signaled clear support. He also stated that the number 10 is an idol and that, in previous call-ups, Neymar regretted not being called up by Ancelotti. Other athletes also expressed their delight; Lucas Paquetá, for example, declared: “We are happy for him, happy that he is back, and we hope to see him on the field as soon as possible to help us. He is an absolutely vital player for our team.” This feeling is shared by figures such as Casemiro, Alisson and Danilo, highlighting the duality in the perception of Neymar in this World Cup.
Neymar chose not to react to public criticism, not even that of the President of the Republic. He stayed away from the discussion about his merit in the selection, dedicating himself exclusively to training, recovery and waiting. With his imminent return to the pitch, the expectation is that he will end the perception that it is allowed to attack the Brazilian number 10 without any challenge.
