Neymar Jr is back in green and gold. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti named the 34-year-old in the country’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 18, 2026, ending an absence from the national team that stretched back to 2023.
The return is significant for reasons that go beyond one player’s name on a roster sheet. Neymar’s last three years have been defined almost entirely by injury, and his inclusion signals that Ancelotti believes the Santos forward is fit enough to contribute at a tournament Brazil is treating as a genuine title opportunity.
What the squad looks like
Brazil’s attacking options read like a who’s-who of modern football. Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha anchor the forward line alongside Neymar, while teenager Endrick’s inclusion signals that Ancelotti is building for now and later simultaneously.
The tournament itself is an expanded edition, co-hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Brazil enters chasing a sixth World Cup title, a record that no other nation holds.
