Fiery attack from Casagrande: Neymar a "slaughtered chicken" with no place in the 2026 World Cup

Walter Casagrande, the former Brazilian national team star, launched a scathing attack on his compatriot Neymar da Silva, questioning his ability to provide any technical addition to the "Seleção" in the 2026 World Cup finals. Casagrande stated that Neymar's current physical condition makes his presence in coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad undeserved, describing his performance at high levels as pathetic.

Sharp criticism of his physical level and noticeable technical decline

Casagrande believes that Neymar's hopes of participating in the upcoming World Cup have effectively vanished due to his disappointing performance after returning from a long series of injuries. The Brazilian analyst pointed out that the most expensive player in football history is no longer capable of keeping up with the fast pace of major matches, warning that his call-up might only depend on his "name and history" and not on his actual contribution on the pitch.

Disastrous numbers in matches against Santos and San Lorenzo

Casagrande based his criticism on Neymar's recent statistics with his club Santos in the "Copa Sudamericana" tournament, specifically in the match against Argentine San Lorenzo. He explained that the numbers reflect a terrifying decline; Neymar failed to take any shot on goal, succeeded in only one cross and one dribble out of five attempts, in addition to losing the majority of physical duels he engaged in during the match.

Harsh comparison to a "slaughtered chicken" against the elite

In a harsh comparison, the 1986 World Cup star questioned the current Neymar's ability to face elite European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich. Casagrande affirmed to the Brazilian "UOL" network that Neymar would appear in those matches like a "slaughtered chicken," merely watching the ball move left and right without being able to touch it or influence the game's flow, which would make him a burden on the national team in a global event the size of the World Cup.