Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that Vinicius Jr will only be selected for next year’s World Cup if he is fully fit, reaffirming his commitment to calling up players who are 100% ready for competition.

Ancelotti delivered a similar message in October to Neymar, stressing that the Santos star would also need to be in top physical condition before earning a return to the national squad.

Speaking to Brazilian sports programme Esporte Record, the Italian coach emphasised that the same standards apply to every player.

“There are many high-quality players, and I have to choose those who are at 100%,” Ancelotti said.

“It’s not just Neymar—it could be Vinicius. If Vinicius is at 90%, I will select another player who is at 100%. This team has an extremely high level of competitiveness, especially in attack, where we have many excellent options.”

Vinicius Jr scored the decisive goal in Brazil’s 1–0 win over Paraguay in June, a victory that secured the team’s place at the 2026 World Cup, which will run from June 11 to July 19 across North America. Brazil is set to face France in a warm-up match in Boston during the international window between March 23 and 31.