Carlo Ancelotti Faces Backlash for Choosing Injured Neymar Over Joao Pedro's Stellar Season

Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images

Carlo Ancelotti Faces Backlash for Choosing Injured Neymar Over Joao Pedro's Stellar Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated May 29, 2026 2:41 AM ET

Brazil's World Cup buildup was already carrying enough pressure. Now there's an injury scare to go with it. Neymar picked up a calf injury just days before the national team's first warm-up match, throwing Carlo Ancelotti's plans into uncertainty.

Further tests reportedly confirmed a grade-two muscle strain, the kind of setback that typically sidelines a player for several weeks. Neymar has already missed training sessions and is expected to sit out Brazil's pre-tournament friendlies, putting his availability for the opening World Cup fixture in serious doubt.

What made the situation worse in the eyes of many fans was who didn't get the call. João Pedro, coming off one of the standout individual seasons in the Premier League, was left out of the squad entirely.

Brazilian forward Joao Pedro during the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World CupVincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

That decision has sparked a wave of criticism directed at Ancelotti, and it hasn't been quiet.

João Pedro's Season Made the Omission Hard to Ignore

The numbers from Pedro's 2025-26 campaign at Chelsea tell a clear story. He finished with 20 goals across all competitions, giving the Blues an attacking foundation that few others in the squad could match. Beyond the stats, Pedro brought composure and movement that changed games in ways that don't always show up on a scoresheet.

Leaving him home while carrying an injured 33-year-old on name value alone was never going to sit well with fans, and it didn't.

"Maybe it is time for Ancelotti to make the hard call to drop Neymar and call up Joao Pedro," one fan wrote.

"Brazil aren't serious bruh, imagining losing and then bring on an old, finished Neymar, hoping he would make smth happen when he can't even do it in the Brazilian league no more," another added.

"I understand why calling Neymar was crucial but we need players that will be fit not players that get called up because of their name and what they have done in the past. Carlo Ancelotti should've called Joao Pedro instead of Neymar,” a third fan put it plainly.

"It's all PR game. If he played for Barca, he would be selected even without a leg," one supporter said.

Another simply sent a message to the man left out. "Pedro, my brother, don't give up."

"Ancelotti picked sentiment over form and now it might cost Brazil. Joao Pedro had a career season and is watching from home while an injured 33-year-old takes his spot," one fan said, summing up what many were thinking.

: João Pedro has NOT been picked for Brazil's World Cup squad despite playing up to 60 games in all competitions at the highest level, producing 25 goals + 6 assists.

Meanwhile Neymar was selected while being injured, and now being out for 3 weeks + missing… pic.twitter.com/MzS28nwZFo
— The Touchline | (@TouchlineX) May 28, 2026

Neymar's Return Timeline Leaves Little Room for Error

Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar addressed the media and put a rough window on Neymar's recovery, saying the expectation is for him to return within "two to three weeks."

With Brazil set to open the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Morocco on June 13, that timeline leaves almost no margin for any further setback.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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