Neymar named in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil World Cup squad | OneFootball

To the surprise of many, Neymar has been included in head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The 34-year-old, currently playing for Santos, is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances. However, he has not represented the Selecao since 2023 due to injury struggles.

In a move which few RightBet users could describe as against the odds, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star will return to the Brazilian national team setup for the first time in three years to compete this summer.

This inclusion marks Neymar’s fourth World Cup appearance, having previously represented Brazil in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments. 

The announcement of his inclusion was met with cheers from fans at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

To what extent Neymar will be a key figure in Ancelotti’s plans in the USA, Canada and Mexico remains to be seen, but he is on the plane and going to the World Cup

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Other key inclusions and exclusions

Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, who has missed the last 10 games for his club, Liverpool, due to injury, has also been selected. Other notable Premier League inclusions are Manchester United’s Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, Arsenal’s Gabriel, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, and Bournemouth’s Rayan.

However, Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, despite being the Blues’ top scorer in the Premier League this season with 15 goals and five assists, has not made the cut. There will be plenty of Brazil fans wondering whether or not Joao Pedro deserved the opportunity more than Neymar.

Other players who have made the squad include LaLiga stars Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Raphinha of Barcelona, as well as 19-year-old striker Endrick, currently on loan at Lyon from Los Blancos.

Five-time winners Brazil will face Morocco on 13 June, Haiti on 20 June, and Scotland in their final Group C game four days later.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off on 11 June.

Here is the full Brazil squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio).

Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Danilo (Flamengo), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibáñez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg).

Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo).

Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth).

This selection reflects a mix of experienced players and young starlets, promising an exciting performance from Brazil in the upcoming World Cup.

Perhaps most interestingly of all, Neymar will be part of it all once again. Could he make an impact as ageing stars sometimes do, or will he go unnoticed this summer? Only time will tell.