Neymar is physically ready to play a full World Cup knockout match for the first time in this tournament, yet he will almost certainly begin Sunday’s last-16 tie against Norway on the bench. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed in an interview with Folha de S.Paulo that the 34-year-old, who has managed only 14 substitute minutes against Scotland after arriving with a right calf injury, “can play 90 minutes”. The Italian added a pointed observation: “He’s not satisfied, but he’s behaving very well.” Brazilian media reports frame that dissatisfaction as a deliberate management stance; Ancelotti himself called it “positive” because “a player cannot be happy to be on the bench”. The forward, described by his coach as “respectful, kind, and loved by his teammates”, has not openly demanded to start, but his desire is, in Ancelotti’s words, “quite clear”.

That bench role is partly a consequence of the system Brazil have used throughout the tournament. With Lucas Paquetá ruled out by a hamstring injury and Raphinha still recovering, the most natural replacement is 19-year-old Endrick, who replaced Paquetá at half-time in the hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over Japan. Endrick told media that his versatility – he can operate as a false nine, on the right wing, or as a number nine, as he did on loan at Lyon – gives Ancelotti options. “The coach knows my qualities and characteristics very well because we spent a year together at Real Madrid,” he said. Brazilian outlets note that deploying Endrick would likely mean a shift to a more aggressive shape, perhaps the four-attacker setup that turned the Japan match, a tactical gamble Ancelotti has shown he is willing to take.

Viewed from European press rooms, the fixture carries a historical weight that belies the teams’ current rankings. Brazil have never beaten Norway in four attempts, drawing twice and losing twice, including a 2-1 group-stage defeat at France 1998. More broadly, the Seleção have not defeated a European side in a World Cup knockout tie since the 2002 final. Ancelotti acknowledged the difficulty, describing Norway as “a very well-organised team defensively” and singling out Erling Haaland as “one of the best players in the world”. He insisted, however, that Brazil’s preparation is not focused solely on the Manchester City striker, pointing to Norway’s set-piece strength and the experience of their coach. “We are prepared for anything that can happen. We may concede a goal, but we are prepared to react,” he said.

Norwegian sources add a layer of personal narrative. Winger Antonio Nusa, 21, who scored his first World Cup goal against Ivory Coast, grew up idolising Neymar and called him “my hero”. The two exchanged shirts after a club friendly last year, a memento Nusa says sits in his living room. Now he faces the possibility of eliminating his idol’s team. For Brazil, the equation is simpler: win, and a quarter-final place is secured; lose, and a 24-year knockout drought against European opposition extends into another cycle. The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host a contest that, for all the pre-match talk of fitness and formations, will turn on whether Ancelotti’s management of his greatest but most frustrated asset proves decisive.