Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has named Neymar as a key player for the 2026 World Cup, following a year-long assessment that confirmed the forward’s improved continuity and physical condition.
Ancelotti, who has closely monitored Neymar’s performances in the Brazilian league, has included the veteran in the 26-man squad for the tournament — widely expected to be his final major international competition.
“Neymar will be an important player for us at the World Cup,” Ancelotti stated. “We spent the entire year analyzing Neymar. We realized that in this recent period he has had continuity and is in good physical condition.”
Neymar last represented Brazil on October 17, 2023, in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, where he sustained a serious knee injury. Across 128 senior caps, he holds the national record with 79 goals and 58 assists.
His only major title with the senior team is the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, in addition to the historic Olympic gold medal won with the under-23 squad in 2016.
Ancelotti announced the 26-player squad on Monday, May 18, 2026, for the World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July.
According to the CBF, the selected players will begin reporting on May 27 at the Granja Comary training center in Teresópolis, in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro. The team will then play a farewell friendly against Panama on May 31 at the Maracanã Stadium.
LIST OF SANCTIONED PLAYERS
Goalkeepers
ALISSON (Liverpool)
EDERSON (Fenerbahçe)
WEVERTON (Grêmio)
Defenders
ALEX SANDRO (Flamengo)
BREMER (Juventus)
DANILO (Flamengo)
DOUGLAS SANTOS (Zenit)
GABRIEL MAGALHÃES (Arsenal)
IBAÑEZ (Al-Ahli)
LÉO PEREIRA (Flamengo)
MARQUINHOS (PSG)
WESLEY (Rome)
Midfielders
BRUNO GUIMARÃES (Newcastle)
CASEMIRO (Manchester United)
DANILO SANTOS (Botafogo)
FABINHO (Al-Ittihad)
LUCAS PAQUETÁ (Flamengo)
Forwards
ENDRICK (Lyon)
GABRIEL MARTINELLI (Arsenal)
IGOR THIAGO (Brentford)
LUIZ HENRIQUE (Zenit)
MATHEUS CUNHA (Manchester United)
NEYMAR (Santos)
RAPHINHA (Barcelona)
RAYAN (Bournemouth) VINI JR. (Real Madrid)
