Brazil's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a 2-1 loss to Norway in the Round of 16 on Sunday (5), could trigger a wave of farewells from the national team. Carlo Ancelotti's squad has the highest average age of any Brazilian team to compete at a World Cup, at 28.7 years, and includes at least ten players who are unlikely to be part of the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Of the 26 players selected, 42.3% are aged 30 or older. The oldest is goalkeeper Weverton, 38, followed by Alex Sandro, 35, and Casemiro, Neymar and Danilo, all 34. Also expected to bow out are goalkeepers Alisson, 33, and Ederson, 32; midfielder Fabinho, 32; center back Marquinhos, 32; and full-back Douglas Santos, 32.
Neymar played in his fourth World Cup despite spending most of the tournament recovering from a physical injury. After returning in the victory over Scotland, he handed the team's leadership to Vinicius Junior, whom he described as "our main player," praising his outstanding form and decisive performances.
A second group, aged between 27 and 30 and still in their prime, is expected to remain the backbone of the national team in the next cycle. The younger generation, aged 25 or under, should once again be led by Vinicius Junior, alongside Luiz Henrique, Danilo Santos, Wesley, Endrick and Rayan, with Rodrygo and Estêvão expected to return after missing this World Cup through injury.
