🤔 Neymar return? Rodrygo injury forces Ancelotti to rethink Brazil

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·4. März 2026

🤔 Neymar return? Rodrygo injury forces Ancelotti to rethink Brazil

The Brazilian National Team has suffered a major blow with Rodrygo’s serious injury.

The Real Madrid forward suffered a rupture of the cruciate ligament in his right knee and will need six months to a year to recover, which officially rules him out of the World Cup.

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Rodrygo was a central piece in Carlo Ancelotti’s system and the top scorer of the current cycle for the National Team, with eight goals.

Since his return in the match against South Korea in October, he had started in three out of four games.

Playing on the left side in the 4-2-4 formation, but with the freedom to move inside and get into the box, his versatility was one of the Italian coach’s main assets.

Neymar back in the spotlight

With the spot now open, Neymar’s name is gaining traction again, as he has similar characteristics to Rodrygo.

However, Ancelotti has made it clear that Santos’ number 10 needs to prove he is in ideal physical condition.

After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on the meniscus of his left knee in December, Neymar only returned to play on February 15.

Since then, he has played three matches for Santos, unable to prevent the team’s elimination from the Paulistão by Novorizontino, but scoring two goals in the win over Vasco in the Brasileirão.

Another midfielder or a number 9?

Rodrygo’s injury could also change the overall makeup of the final squad list, according to O Globo.

Instead of bringing another forward with the same characteristics, Ancelotti may choose to call up an extra midfielder or a new center-forward.

The first signs of how the Italian coach will solve this puzzle will be seen in the squad announcement on March 16, for the friendlies against France and Croatia.

What will Brazil’s attack look like?

The absence of Real Madrid’s number 10 opens up a range of possibilities for the coaching staff, directly impacting other key names in the squad:

Gabriel Martinelli: The injury practically guarantees the Arsenal forward’s (current leader of the English Premier League) place in the World Cup squad. He had already played on the left wing in the wins against Paraguay and Chile in the Qualifiers. However, Martinelli has a different profile from Rodrygo, being more of a traditional winger and less versatile in drifting inside, which would require some adjustments from the team.
Raphinha: The Barcelona player appears as the least drastic tactical alternative. Used to playing on the left for the Spanish club, Raphinha also offers the versatility to play on both sides or centrally. Interestingly, he and Rodrygo have not yet played together under Ancelotti due to injuries.
Vini Jr: Another option would be to move Vinícius Júnior to the left side. However, this would take the number 7 out of the position where he has performed best under Ancelotti: playing more centrally, close to the defenders, with the freedom to drift wide.

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