Brazil¡¯s record scorer Neymar said he had to endure ¡°nonsense¡± ?criticism as he worked his way back from serious injuries and is satisfied he has done all he can to prove he is fully fit and deserves a place in Carlo ?Ancelotti¡¯s World Cup squad.
The Santos forward has not played ?for his ?country since 2023 due to injuries and ?a knee operation that sidelined him for a year. Brazil coach Ancelotti has said Neymar has to be fully ?fit and playing well to be in contention for a World ?Cup spot.
¡°Physically, I feel great,¡°?Neymar told reporters after Santos¡¯ ?3-0 defeat against?Coritiba ?on Sunday.?¡°I¡¯ve been improving with every game.
¡°I¡¯ve done my absolute best ¡ª?it wasn¡¯t easy. I¡¯ll admit it wasn¡¯t easy.
¡°It¡¯s ?been years of ?hard work, and also of a lot ?of nonsense being said about my condition and ?what I ?was doing. It¡¯s really sad the way people talk about it.
¡°I worked hard, quietly, at home, suffering because of what people were saying, and it all ?worked out.
¡°I¡¯ve made it to where I wanted to be in one piece. I¡¯m happy with my performance, with everything I¡¯ve done so far ... Whatever happens, Ancelotti will certainly call up ?the ?26 best players for this battle.¡±
During Sunday¡¯s ?match, Neymar was involved in a furious protest after ?being wrongly substituted. The mixup could not have come at a worse time for the 34-year-old, with Ancelotti set to announce his World Cup squad on Monday.
Brazil, ?looking to win a record-extending sixth World Cup title, will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C of the June 11 to July 19 tournament in North America.
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