An increasing number of voices are talking out in favor of Neymar’s return to the Brazil nationwide staff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On this case, it was a soccer legend, Ronaldinho, who backed the Santos ahead’s case.
“I hope he goes as a result of I feel he might be very useful,” Ronaldinho mentioned about Ney in a current interview with Globo Esporte. “Personally, I’m his buddy, and I feel he is likely one of the best skills in world soccer.”
Nevertheless, the previous Barcelona and AC Milan star, who retired in 2015, made it clear that he trusts Carlo Ancelotti’s judgment in terms of choosing Brazil’s roster: “It’s the coach’s resolution, and we have now to respect it… We don’t know what the coach is pondering. He has his personal plans.”
Regardless of Neymar’s absence—a minimum of for now—from Ancelotti’s plans, Ronaldinho expressed optimism concerning the route of the nationwide staff within the months main as much as the World Cup. “I see Brazil doing very properly. They’ve nice gamers, and we want them a great preparation in order that they arrive in prime type. As a fan, their primary supporter, I’ll be there cheering them on,” mentioned the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner.
Neymar and Ronaldinho in motion throughout a Brazil coaching session on February 5, 2013 in London.
Neymar and Ronaldinho have been teammates and rivals
Regardless of belonging to totally different generations, Ronaldinho and Neymar have been briefly teammates with the Brazil nationwide staff. Ney made his worldwide debut in August 2010 and, simply three months later, performed alongside Ronaldinho in a pleasant towards Argentina. Within the following years, they shared the sphere a number of extra occasions, totaling 10 matches collectively, with six wins, two attracts, and two losses.

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On the identical time, the 2 stars additionally confronted one another at membership stage. In 2011 and 2012, they went head-to-head within the Brazilian Serie A with Santos and Flamengo. Essentially the most memorable of these matches was the primary, a 5-4 Flamengo victory fueled by a Ronaldinho hat trick and two targets from Ney.
Ronaldinho has the authority to talk
Ronaldinho’s opinion carries weight given his legacy as a participant. The attacking midfielder was one of many greatest stars in world soccer within the early 2000s and left his mark each at membership stage with Barcelona and internationally with Brazil.
With the nationwide staff, Dinho achieved main success, successful the 1999 Copa America, the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, and the 2005 Confederations Cup. He additionally earned a bronze medal on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.















