Rio De Janeiro, June 27 -- Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has urged Neymar to focus on being ready for next year's World Cup, saying the country's all-time leading scorer remains crucial to his plans.
Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 2023, when he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star returned to action last October after more than a year on the sidelines but has since struggled with a series of minor muscle injuries.
"He is a very important player for our team in the World Cup," Ancelotti said in an interview with South American football confederation CONMEBOL published on Thursday.
On Wednesday,...