The doorways of the Seleçao open once more for Neymar. After greater than two years of absence, he was summoned by the coach on Monday Carlo Ancelotti to compete within the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada (June 11 – July 19), maybe the final main assembly for a participant with a physique worn out by accidents.
For months, the cleaning soap opera has agitated Brazil: at 34 years previous, the previous Barcelona and PSGwith recurring bodily issues, will he achieve his race in opposition to time to seek out the Brazilian choice, with whom he has not performed since October 2023?
Neymar’s pleasure
The reply got here from Ancelotti on Monday, throughout a press convention in Rio de Janeiro: the highest scorer of the Seleçao (79 targets, two greater than Pelé, in 128 caps) will play his 4th World Cup after these of 2014, 2018 and 2022. The identify of Neymar was additionally greeted and applauded at size by the spectators current within the massive room the place the coach introduced his listing, a lot in order that Ancelotti needed to pause for a couple of seconds. “I’m there!” I am there! », Neymar repeated with emotion in a video shared on social networks.
Returning final 12 months to Santos, his coaching membership, he had by no means been referred to as as much as the nationwide workforce because the arrival of Ancelotti in Might 2025. His final assembly within the jersey of the five-time world champions dates again to October 17, 2023, when he suffered a critical damage to his left knee in opposition to Uruguay which had stored him away from the sphere for a lot of months.
A World Cup with out Thiago Silva
After two nearly clean years at Al-Hilal, in Saudi Arabia, Neymar joined Santos in 2025, the place regardless of quite a few bodily glitches, he performed a key position in its retention in the first division last seasonearlier than present process surgical procedure on the identical left knee on the finish of December. “Bodily, I really feel superb,” Neymar reassured Sunday after his workforce’s defeat within the league in opposition to Coritiba (3-0). “We have now adopted Neymar all year long and now we have seen that just lately he has been taking part in recurrently and his bodily situation has improved. We expect he is a crucial participant,” defined Ancelotti.
Disadvantaged of the Madrilenian Rodrygo, injured in the fitting knee and forfeited for the World Cup, Ancelotti will however be capable to rely in assault on the star of Actual Madrid Vinicius Jr, the younger Lyonnais Endrick and the Barcelona Raphinha. However, veteran defender Thiago Silva, who has not performed for the Seleçao since 2022, was not chosen. At 41, the previous Parisian, who performed in Porto this season, may have benefited from the lack of Madrilenian Eder Militao who underwent thigh surgical procedure on the finish of April.
Different Brazilian executives, akin to Parisian defender Marquinhos, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes are all current.
Our file on the 2026 World Cup
On the World Cup, Brazil will face Morocco, Scotland and Haiti in Group C.
