Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has announced the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America, and the most warmly received name was Neymar Jr. The 34-year-old forward, who has been absent from the national team since October 2023 following a knee ligament injury, finally made the cut after months of fitness debates.
Why Neymar was chosen
Coach Ancelotti explained that he decided to select Neymar after seeing a clear improvement in the striker’s fitness in recent times. “We evaluated Neymar throughout the year and noticed that recently he has been playing consistently, in better physical shape,” Ancelotti said at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, surpassing legend Pelé.
Controversy around the call-up
Neymar’s return has sparked considerable debate, mainly over his injury history. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in October 2023 and endured a difficult spell at Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) as well as since returning to Santos. In the 2026 season, Neymar has scored only 4 goals and provided 2 assists in Brazil’s national league – modest numbers compared to his peak form. Last week, a substitution incident during a Santos game caused him to become angry, which went viral on social media.
Reactions from fans and teammates
Despite his long absence, Neymar retains the affection of Brazilian fans. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio waiting for his name to be called. Teammates also voiced support: defender Marcelo posted a celebration photo on Instagram, midfielder Raphinha called Neymar “the one who will take us to the sixth title,” and captain Marquinhos stated: “As a teammate, a Brazilian, and a fan, we want him at the World Cup.”
Players left out
Joao Pedro, Chelsea’s best performer in the 2025-26 season, was not included despite his fine form. Richarlison was also omitted, while Eder Militao, Rodrygo, and Estevao are out due to injuries.
Fourth World Cup and likely the last
The 2026 World Cup will be Neymar’s fourth, after 2014 (host nation), 2018 (Russia), and 2022 (Qatar). In 13 matches across three previous World Cups, he has scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists. Given his injury history, declining fitness, and age (he will be 38 in 2030), this is widely expected to be Neymar’s final World Cup appearance.
