Kylian Mbappe has no doubt Neymar will play a part for Brazil at the upcoming World Cup.

Neymar was a notable omission from Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad for their games against France and Croatia.

The 34-year-old had been included in the preliminary squad, having returned to fitness for Santos following a spell on the sidelines.

Ancelotti has said Neymar has a chance of making his squad for the World Cup should he prove his fitness.

But the forward's ex-Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Mbappe thinks Neymar's participation should not in question.

"Neymar is Neymar. Neymar is a great player. The World Cup is the tournament of world stars," Mbappe told Globo.

"All the stars are here. In my book, Neymar is one of the biggest stars. I don't see a World Cup without Neymar.

"In the end, I also can't go against my ex-manager, Ancelotti, so in the end it's his decision that I have to respect, but for me Neymar is a player that makes a big difference.

"I played with him. I learned a lot from him. Let's see how he will be. But I know Neymar. He's going to prepare for the World Cup and he will be there."

France's clash with Brazil on Thursday also sees Mbappe go up against his current Real Madrid club-mate Vinicius Junior.

Asked if Vinicius was now the main man for Brazil, rather than Neymar – the nation's record scorer – Mbappe said: "What a question!

"I think it could be both of theirs. The truth is that Vini now needs to take another step with Brazil, but Neymar is Neymar."