Neymar Jr. Makes Brazil’s Final Roster for World Cup 2026 Under Carlo Ancelotti

After a nearly three-year international absence and overcoming a devastating knee injury, the Santos star leads a 'Scratch' squad that blends youth and resilience to chase the sixth star.

Photo: Getty Images

The uncertainty is officially over, and the football world is smiling. This Monday, May 18, Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti officially unveiled the 26-man squad that will represent the five-time champions at World Cup 2026. The biggest bombshell of the announcement is the stellar presence of Neymar Jr., the charismatic 34-year-old forward currently playing for Santos, securing his participation in what will be the fourth World Cup of his legendary career following 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Neymar’s inclusion represents a true triumph of resilience. The Brazilian icon returns to the national team after a painful absence of nearly three years, stemming from a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee suffered back in October 2023. Despite early doubts from the Italian manager, Neymar's recent form with Santos speaks for itself: 15 appearances, 6 goals, and 4 assists this season. His call-up comes just a day after a bizarre incident in the Santos vs. Coritiba match, where he was mistakenly substituted by the medical staff—a comedic misunderstanding that fortunately did not affect his international return.

Ancelotti has structured a highly competitive squad that perfectly blends the seasoned hierarchy of stars like Marquinhos, Casemiro, and Alisson with the explosive energy of young forwards like Vinícius Jr., Raphinha, Endrick (from Lyon), and Matheus Cunha. Flamengo stands as the core domestic base, contributing four players to the team. However, the list is not without major heartbreaks; the manager lamented missing injured stars Rodrygo, Éder Militão, and Estêvão, while also making tactical omissions of Chelsea players João Pedro and Andrey Santos. Brazil is set to debut on Saturday, June 13, against Morocco in Group C action, a group they share with Haiti and Scotland. 

"It was very difficult to choose 26 players because the competition in this country is incredibly high. It is not a perfect list, I know, but the perfect team does not exist. We want to be the most resilient team in the world," Carlo Ancelotti stated during his press conference, acknowledging the thousands of roster tips he received from journalists, influencers, and musicians worldwide.