Brazilian forward Neymar has once again found himself at the centre of attention after reacting angrily to a controversial substitution during Santos’s Serie A match against Coritiba, just days before Brazil’s preliminary squad announcement for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The 34-year-old striker was visibly frustrated after the fourth official mistakenly displayed his number during a substitution in the 65th minute of the match. Neymar believed teammate Gonzalo Escobar was supposed to leave the field instead.
The Santos captain argued with officials, grabbed the substitution slip and showed it to television cameras in an attempt to prove the mistake. His refusal to immediately leave the pitch resulted in a yellow card.
Santos later confirmed that the officials had made an error during the substitution process. The club stated that the substitution note carried Escobar’s name, not Neymar’s.
The match ended in disappointment for Santos, who suffered a 3-0 defeat and remain close to the relegation zone with 18 points from 16 matches.
The incident has intensified discussion around Neymar’s future with the Brazilian national team ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 2023 and has spent much of the past two years battling injuries. Since returning to Santos after knee surgery earlier this year, he has scored six goals in 15 appearances but has also struggled with recurring muscle problems.
Despite the setbacks, Neymar has repeatedly expressed confidence in his physical condition and his desire to return to the national team.
After the match, he said he had worked hard to regain fitness and overcome criticism surrounding his injuries and recovery process. Neymar added that he feels physically strong and believes he has done everything possible to earn a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has remained cautious about Neymar’s inclusion, stressing that selection decisions will depend entirely on fitness, performance and tactical balance.
Ancelotti acknowledged Neymar’s importance to Brazilian football but said the final decision would be based on professional evaluation rather than public pressure or reputation.
The Italian coach also explained that his tactical approach requires forwards capable of maintaining high intensity, pressing and defensive work throughout matches, an area where Neymar’s fitness levels remain under scrutiny.
Still, Ancelotti admitted Neymar has shown noticeable improvement in recent matches and confirmed that teammates and supporters continue to strongly back the forward’s return.
Brazil’s preliminary World Cup squad is expected to be announced on Monday, with the final 26-man squad to be confirmed before the tournament begins in June.
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