Neymar given final Santos pause before decisive push for Brazil World Cup squad | OneFootball

Neymar enters his final pause in Santos’ schedule before a decisive push to earn a place among Brazil’s 26 for the World Cup.

According to Globo.com, he sat out Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Cruzeiro at the Mineirão and now has almost two weeks to prepare. Santos are next due to play Remo on 2 April at Vila Belmiro, with the squad resting for two days before returning on Wednesday.

The break falls in the FIFA window. Neymar is on Brazil’s provisional list, and they face France on 26 March and Croatia on 31 March, the last friendlies before Carlo Ancelotti finalises his squad.

Only 14 matches remain for him to reach the fitness level demanded by the Brazil staff, who name the group on 18 May. Santos have eight league games, four in the Sudamericana and two in the Copa do Brasil, with the fifth-round draw on Monday.

That schedule averages a game every four days, so careful management is required. He is unlikely to feature in all 14, further limiting his chances to impress.

Caution has been the trend. In the previous FIFA window he skipped on-field sessions under Juan Pablo Vojvoda, missing four tactical sessions to work indoors at CT Rei Pelé, then sat out the Mirassol match when Ancelotti could have watched him in person.

The World Cup remains his main target this year, and he has said the 2026 edition would be the last of his professional career.

Source: Globo.com