GIMME MAR Incredible Neymar skill leaves Rio Ferdinand stunned as Ancelotti asks Brazil PRESIDENT whether to take him to World Cup

But it seems it still hasn't been enough to fully convince Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti to pick him for the World Cup, at least not without asking for some presidential advice.

Neymar showed off an incredible skill that left Rio Ferdinand stunned

Ex-Barcelona star Neymar now stars for Santos back in his homeland.

And the 34-year-old showed he still has the same brilliant flair and box of tricks that once made him one of the best and most exciting players in world football.

During a Copa Sudamericana clash against Recoleta FC, Neymar was in fine form as he found the back of the net after just four minutes.

However, it was a piece of skill he produced in the second half which left six-time Premier League winner and Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand in awe.

Neymar was seen dropping his shoulder to his right to shield the ball from a defender.

He then stopped it dead by planting his left foot on the ball before moving his right foot behind the back of his leg and flicking the ball through the legs of an opponent.

Ferdinand, 47, took to social media to praise the skill and said: "What a guy."

Neymar has been the face of Brazilian football for well over a decade and is his nation's record scorer with 79 goals.

His presence at the World Cup would in some people's eyes be a massive boost to the Samba nation's hopes of winning a first Jules Rimet since 2002.

The decision whether to take him will be made by legendary former Real Madrid, Chelsea and AC Milan boss Ancelotti.

But even the 66-year-old needed to ask Brazil president Lulu Inácio Lula da Silva for his opinion on Neymar's inclusion.

Fitness issues have plagued Neymar's career since leaving Barcelona, getting worse at Paris Saint-Germain before he barely played for Al-Hilal between 2023 and 2025 in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Lulu, 80, revealed the chat he had with Ancelotti regarding Neymar: "I had the chance to speak with Ancelotti, and he asked me: ‘Do you think Neymar should be called up?'

"I said: ‘Look, Ancelotti, if he's physically fit, he's got the football. What I need to know is whether he actually wants it.'

"If he does, then he has to be professional. He can look at someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, he can look at Messi, and still go to the national team, because he's not old yet.

"But he can't expect to go just on his name. He has to earn it on the pitch."

Neymar had led his nation's hopes of winning the World Cup on home soil in 2014, but suffered an injury that saw him miss the semi-finals, in which Brazil were thrashed 7-1 by Germany.

They have not made it past the quarter-finals in the last two tournaments.

This year, Brazil will face Afcon champions Morocco, Caribbean minnows Haiti and European side Scotland.