Pini Zahavi believes Carlo Ancelotti will not make the mistake of leaving Neymar out of Brazil 's World Cup plans, despite the forward being dropped for the latest friendlies.
Neymar's omission has naturally created anxiety because there is not much time left before Brazil finalises their thinking for the 2026 World Cup.
But Zahavi's message was not one of panic. It was a public show of confidence that Neymar still matters too much to be discarded from Brazil's biggest conversation.
Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images
According to Fabrizio Romano, Zahavi carried a firm response from Neymar's agent as questions continue to grow around the forward's international future.
"I have big respect for Carlo Ancelotti, and also I know how hard Neymar is working in order to help Brazil at the World Cup," Zahavi said.
He added: "I believe Ancelotti will not make this mistake to give up the heart of Brazil, which is Neymar Jr."
The wording matters because Zahavi is not simply defending Neymar's quality. He is making a wider point about influence, identity, and what Neymar still represents inside Brazilian football.
That is why the phrase "heart of Brazil" lands so strongly. It frames Neymar not as a fading star asking for one more chance, but as a figure Zahavi believes still sits at the centre of the national team story.
Ancelotti's decision, however, appears to have been driven by physical condition rather than any wider rejection of Neymar's role in the squad.
Brazil's coach said Neymar was not at 100% and made clear he needs players who are fully fit for the March friendlies against France and Croatia , which come in the United States just before final World Cup decisions are made.
That makes this less about reputation and more about timing. Neymar may still carry huge weight, but Ancelotti is judging the immediate demands of preparation rather than the emotional pull of a bigger name.
For Zahavi, that probably explains why his defence of Neymar was so direct. He is pushing back against the idea that a short-term omission should be read as a long-term verdict.
The real test now is simple: whether Neymar can get himself into the physical condition Ancelotti has demanded before Brazil's final World Cup call is made.
Read more:
