Roger Federer is coming back to US Open four years after retirement, set for two blockbuster matches US Open confirmed Roger Federer's return on Sunday, and he will be joined by three other tennis greats Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:25:16 IST Written by Aratrick Mondal Prefer HTon Google Share
Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:09:14 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
After seventh seed Victor Lai fell in three games to ninth seed Alex Lanier at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, the former described the Frenchman as a ‘beast’, lauding his physical fitness and tenacity to go the distance and play the long game
India men’s football team will face Panama in a FIFA international friendly in September, ahead of another friendly against five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. According to a report by The Times of India, the match between India and the North American side is
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gianni Infantino, but says he expects a candidate to challenge the Fifa president's leadership in March. Infantino has faced calls to step down after he scrapped a controversial plan to sell off stakes in Fifa's
Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut. The result comea a day after Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-1 with a late winner
GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 09:43:17 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link St. Louis
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin may have been vocal in his demand for the current FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down but he has no interest in replacing the under-fire Swiss. Infantino continues to face pressure to leave his position as world football’s governing body chief following
Flawed, not finished
Flawed, not finished: Why Brazil still needs Neymar 2.0 for World Cup 2026
Flawed, not finished: Why Brazil still needs Neymar 2.0 for World Cup 2026
Neymar returns to Brazil's World Cup squad despite injury concerns, as Carlo Ancelotti aims for balance following key player absences.
Updated on: May 19, 2026 1:02 PM IST By Probuddha Bhattacharjee Share via Copy link Neymar is back in Brazil’s World Cup squad, and Carlo Ancelotti’s call has turned one of the tournament’s biggest selection debates into a final gamble. Brazil have named him in their 26-man list for the FIFA World Cup 2026 despite his injury history, the long absence from the national team, the uneven rhythm since his ACL setback, and the constant question of whether his body can still withstand the demands of elite tournament football. The decision carries obvious risk, but it is not a sentimental indulgence. It is a football calculation shaped by Brazil’s attacking injuries, Neymar’s national-team record and the specific kind of control he can still offer in tight games. Neymar will be a key part of Brazil's World Cup run in 2026. (AFP)Why Ancelotti still picked Neymar
Neymar did not arrive at this squad announcement on the back of a dominant, irresistible run. That has to be the starting point. He has played too little high-level football over the last two years for this to be framed solely as a form-based selection. The knee injury in 2023 disrupted his rhythm with Brazil; his club career after that moved through recovery and limited continuity, and even his return with Santos offered more signs of survival than certainty. There were goals, assists and flashes of old imagination, but not a clean enough spell to erase concern around his fitness. Ancelotti still picked him because Brazil’s final squad picture changed around him. Rodrygo’s injury removed one of the most flexible forwards available to Brazil. He gives balance across the front line, can operate wide or central, and can combine with Vinicius Junior without demanding that the attack be reorganised around him. Estêvão’s injury took away another profile: young, fearless, direct, capable of giving Brazil late-game chaos against tired defenders. Those two absences did not leave Brazil short of attackers, but they did leave Ancelotti with fewer ways to change the texture of a match. That is where Neymar’s case becomes stronger. Brazil still have runners. They still have pace. They still have forwards who can press harder, stretch defences and attack space more naturally than Neymar can at this stage of his career. The missing quality is different. Neymar can receive in crowded areas, draw bodies towards him, invite fouls, delay the pass until a lane opens, and bring calm to a game that is becoming frantic. That is not a decorative skill in World Cup football. It is often the difference between possession that looks busy and possession that actually wounds the opponent. Also Read: Neymar makes it to Brazil squad for World Cup 2026 despite doubts over fitness; Ancelotti banks on experienceThe record and experience: Neymar 2.0
Neymar’s record protects him because it is not built solely on reputation. He is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer and has been the central attacking reference point under multiple coaches, across multiple cycles and tournaments. He has produced in World Cups, including the extra-time goal against Croatia in 2022 that briefly looked like the moment that would push Brazil towards another semi-final. Brazil still collapsed in that match, but Neymar delivered the elite action his role demanded. That memory matters because it shows something beyond technical quality. It shows temperament under the weight of the shirt. Ancelotti’s decision also makes more sense when Neymar is judged by the role he can now play rather than the player he used to be. Brazil are not getting the explosive left-sided superstar who could carry attacks for 90 minutes. That version has been worn down by time, tackles and injuries. The current Neymar needs management. He needs the right match state, the right structure around him and a coach willing to keep the role disciplined. In that shape, the pick becomes far easier to defend. Neymar can start when Brazil expect long spells of possession, enter when opponents sit deep, operate behind quicker forwards, take set pieces and penalties, and give the attack a calmer brain when the pace of the game alone is not enough. The risk remains heavy because Neymar’s name can easily become bigger than his function. If he slows every move, Brazil suffer. If he weakens the press without giving enough on the ball, the midfield carries the cost. If Ancelotti allows the selection to become a farewell tour, the squad loses the edge that a World Cup demands. The pick only works if Brazil treat Neymar as a weapon, not an obligation. He has to be used for moments of control, invention and nerve, not protected as a sacred figure who must play regardless of rhythm.O Príncipe returns
Pele remains “O Rei”, the King. That crown is not Neymar’s and never needed to be. Neymar’s more fitting place in the language around Santos and Brazilian football is closer to “O Príncipe”, the Prince, a phrase that carried renewed force around his Santos return. It works because it does not pretend he is above the old throne. It places him where he belongs: brilliant, flawed, adored, debated and still unfinished. That is the real power of this selection. Neymar has not been picked because Brazil owe him a last dance. He has been picked because, even at a diminished level, he can still do something few Brazilian attackers can do with the same authority. Vinicius Junior can break a game with speed. Raphinha can give intensity and directness. Younger forwards can run, press and stretch the pitch. Neymar can still bend the tempo of a tight match and see a final pass before the defensive line has understood the danger. Ancelotti has taken the risk because the reward remains alive. The body may fail. The legs may not fully answer. The tournament may expose every doubt that followed Neymar into the squad. Yet Brazil’s World Cup history has rarely been shaped only by safe choices. This is not the safest selection. It is the one Ancelotti believed gave Brazil one more route through the kind of suffocating night where pace runs out of room and only imagination finds the door. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Probuddha Bhattacharjee Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More Neymar Fifa World Cup Brazil Carlo Ancelotti Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Durand Cup Final Live. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series. Home/Sports/Football/Flawed, Not Finished: Why Brazil Still Needs Neymar 2.0 For World Cup 2026 See LessNeymar is back in Brazil’s World Cup squad, and Carlo Ancelotti’s call has turned one of the tournament’s biggest selection debates into a final gamble. Brazil have named him in their 26-man list for the FIFA World Cup 2026 despite his injury history, the long absence from the national team, the uneven rhythm since his ACL setback, and the constant question of whether his body can still withstand the demands of elite tournament football. The decision carries obvious risk, but it is not a sentimental indulgence. It is a football calculation shaped by Brazil’s attacking injuries, Neymar’s national-team record and the specific kind of control he can still offer in tight games.
Ancelotti still picked him because Brazil’s final squad picture changed around him. Rodrygo’s injury removed one of the most flexible forwards available to Brazil. He gives balance across the front line, can operate wide or central, and can combine with Vinicius Junior without demanding that the attack be reorganised around him. Estêvão’s injury took away another profile: young, fearless, direct, capable of giving Brazil late-game chaos against tired defenders. Those two absences did not leave Brazil short of attackers, but they did leave Ancelotti with fewer ways to change the texture of a match.
That is where Neymar’s case becomes stronger. Brazil still have runners. They still have pace. They still have forwards who can press harder, stretch defences and attack space more naturally than Neymar can at this stage of his career. The missing quality is different. Neymar can receive in crowded areas, draw bodies towards him, invite fouls, delay the pass until a lane opens, and bring calm to a game that is becoming frantic. That is not a decorative skill in World Cup football. It is often the difference between possession that looks busy and possession that actually wounds the opponent.
Also Read: Neymar makes it to Brazil squad for World Cup 2026 despite doubts over fitness; Ancelotti banks on experience
Ancelotti’s decision also makes more sense when Neymar is judged by the role he can now play rather than the player he used to be. Brazil are not getting the explosive left-sided superstar who could carry attacks for 90 minutes. That version has been worn down by time, tackles and injuries. The current Neymar needs management. He needs the right match state, the right structure around him and a coach willing to keep the role disciplined. In that shape, the pick becomes far easier to defend. Neymar can start when Brazil expect long spells of possession, enter when opponents sit deep, operate behind quicker forwards, take set pieces and penalties, and give the attack a calmer brain when the pace of the game alone is not enough.
The risk remains heavy because Neymar’s name can easily become bigger than his function. If he slows every move, Brazil suffer. If he weakens the press without giving enough on the ball, the midfield carries the cost. If Ancelotti allows the selection to become a farewell tour, the squad loses the edge that a World Cup demands. The pick only works if Brazil treat Neymar as a weapon, not an obligation. He has to be used for moments of control, invention and nerve, not protected as a sacred figure who must play regardless of rhythm.
That is the real power of this selection. Neymar has not been picked because Brazil owe him a last dance. He has been picked because, even at a diminished level, he can still do something few Brazilian attackers can do with the same authority. Vinicius Junior can break a game with speed. Raphinha can give intensity and directness. Younger forwards can run, press and stretch the pitch. Neymar can still bend the tempo of a tight match and see a final pass before the defensive line has understood the danger.
Ancelotti has taken the risk because the reward remains alive. The body may fail. The legs may not fully answer. The tournament may expose every doubt that followed Neymar into the squad. Yet Brazil’s World Cup history has rarely been shaped only by safe choices. This is not the safest selection. It is the one Ancelotti believed gave Brazil one more route through the kind of suffocating night where pace runs out of room and only imagination finds the door.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Neymar,Brazil,World Cup 2026,Carlo Ancelotti,FIFA World Cup
The French are known for a lot of things but badminton isn’t one of them. Till Sunday, when the country that has never been considered among the top nations even in Europe created history at the 2026 World championships, in more ways than one
11 hours ago
AITA picked them, the government cut them: Why has India’s Asian Games tennis squad been slashed from 12 to 7? The AITA had originally proposed a 12-member squad for for the Asian Games, which included six women. But the list was slashed down to just seven players. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
Ashton Jeanty injury update: Is the Raiders RB out for the season? Doctor reveals possible diagnoses; ‘best case…’ Ashton Jeanty was injured after attempting a catch, prompting a tense silence at the Raiders’ facility before his teammates gathered and knelt in prayer. Updated on: Aug 24
14 hours ago
When Liverpool came to Newcastle last August, there was utter jubilation as Rio Ngumoha scored a remarkable 100th-minute winner. They scored late again this time around, through Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but it felt more like a sense of relief than joy as they rescued a point
14 hours ago
'Is Sydney Taylor playing tonight?' Chicago Sky guard's slow start vs Fever sparks injury concerns Sydney Taylor was in Chicago’s starting lineup when the Sky hosted the Indiana Fever on Sunday night. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:32:12 IST By Ojas Jaiswal Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
14 hours ago
Yet again, the England men's cricket team is picking through the wreckage of a late-night misdemeanour. The latest stain on the game's reputation is a result of pictures of fast bowler Brydon Carse in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers outside a nightspot in Derby
14 hours ago
Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguing the remainder of his Crystal Palace contract is invalid and has taken his case to Fifa. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the France international has launched an official challenge over the validity of the final 10 months on his Selhurst Park deal
1 days ago
Bangladesh 64: Starc 6-12 & 95: Shanto 31; Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25 Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the match as Australia bounced back from last week's shock defeat by Bangladesh to win the second Test by an innings and 51 runs and draw the series 1-1. Second Test
1 days ago
Jannik Sinner's absence benefits Carlos Alcaraz: What to expect from the US Open champion after his long injury layoff Jannik Sinner is out, but is it premature to call Carlos Alcaraz the US Open favourite after four months away? Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
US Open leaves Stan Wawrinka out in the cold, denying former champion a wild card for his final Grand Slam The US Open has surprisingly denied Stan Wawrinka a wild card for what could be his final appearance at a Grand Slam. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
India faced the Netherlands in their Pool E match of the ongoing FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 on Saturday (August 22) at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen but suffered a 1-3 defeat. India conceded one goal in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarter to go down against the hosts
1 days ago
There is an uncanny resemblance between Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s bronze-medal run at the 2011 BWF World Championships and Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s campaign at the 2026 edition. Jwala and Ashwini faced the second-seeded Cheng Wen-hsing and Chien Yu-chin as early as the
1 days ago
Runs on the board and rival wickets, is the template that Dhananjaya de Silva will chase when the second Test commences at the SSC Ground on Sunday (August 23, 2026). “It’s about putting runs on the board. That’s what India did [at Galle]. For the first two days they batted and got 460 runs
1 days ago
Serena Williams returns to US Open after four years, joins Carlos Alcaraz for mixed doubles Serena Williams will return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, partnering Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles after receiving a wildcard. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
Roberto De Zerbi may have spent close to £400m by the time his Tottenham Hotspur rebuild is complete – but it took just his side's first Premier League game of the season to prove all the money in the world is no guaranteed cure for a losing mentality
1 days ago
Manchester United's fans had endured a bad enough day on the banks of the River Humber when Hull City's stadium announcer gleefully piped up midway through the second half. Two trains back to Manchester from the city centre station had been cancelled
1 days ago
From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:08:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
2 days ago
Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:17:58 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Aberdeenshire , Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of four missed cuts as he made the
2 days ago
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has been fined for slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan during their side's Major League Soccer (MLS) 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Messi, 39, slapped Sullivan around the back of the head towards the end of the game as he complained the Union player had elbowed him after
2 days ago
Premier League champions Arsenal will start the new season with some of the nightmares of the previous two as their marquee signing, midfielder Bruno Guimarães, is not part of the squad due to an injury. Guimarães signed for £75 million (Rs. 979 crore) from Newcastle United and suffered a knock
2 days ago
Nostalgia may have enveloped Sairaj Bahutule when he entered the SSC Ground. He would have remembered his last Test played at the same venue in 2001, a game India lost. The Indian spin-bowling coach, though, quickly immersed himself in the nets here Friday (August 21, 2026)
2 days ago
Lionel Messi fined for slapping opponent on the head as Inter Miami-Philadelphia clash erupts into late red-card chaos Lionel Messi was fined by MLS after slapping Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the head as Inter Miami's 2-2 draw desecended into stoppage-time chaos. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026
2 days ago
Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra managed to deliver his season’s best performance at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday but fell agonisingly short of the top spot, as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage finished first with a throw just nine centimetres more than his
2 days ago
Why did Nick Chubb retire? Net worth in focus as NFL player ends career at 30 Nick Chubb played for eight seasons in NFL that included seven years with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Houston Texans. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026, 09:25:09 IST By Shirin Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
2 days ago
Arsenal started last season as nearly men - but now they have the swagger of winners. That much can be seen on the approach to Emirates Stadium. Above the entrance to the ground is new signage, a simple message in gold: 'Champions'. Players and fans alike have taken the confidence of last season's
2 days ago
Liverpool, Man City face questions in new era without Salah, Guardiola Liverpool, Man City face questions in new era without Salah, Guardiola Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 06:32:41 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola are two of the most iconic figures in
2 days ago
Nakashima knocks out Fritz to reach Cincinnati semi-finals Nakashima knocks out Fritz to reach Cincinnati semi-finals Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 04:36:47 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Brandon Nakashima continued his red-hot pace on Friday
2 days ago
