Amidst applause and scars

Yesterday, at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Carlo Ancelotti announced the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. And when the name Neymar came out of his mouth, the venue erupted – fans celebrating the return of a legendary figure of the Seleção.

The last time he had been called up was in March 2025, but physical problems prevented him from playing. And the last time he actually took to the pitch for the national team was over two and a half years ago, in October 2023, when a serious knee injury, sustained in a match against Uruguay, sidelined him.

Injuries. Always injuries. They have followed Neymar like a shadow throughout his entire career, both for the national team and for his clubs. Back at Santos, the club that introduced him to the world, the 34-year-old star waited anxiously. He had been left out of all of Ancelotti’s previous squads, but a solid run in 2026, with 6 goals and 4 assists in 15 matches, spoke for itself. The Italian manager made his decision: Neymar is going to the World Cup.

And it makes perfect sense. His legacy with the national team is immense.

The weight of time

Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 79 goals – surpassing Pelé’s tally of 77. He was a key figure in winning the 2013 Confederations Cup and Olympic gold in 2016.

But at the World Cup, history has always been crueller.

In 2010, Dunga didn’t call him up. He was only 18, and the manager felt he lacked experience. 14,000 people signed a petition calling for his inclusion – to no avail. Neymar wasn’t selected and Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands.

Later that year, under Mano Menezes, Neymar made his debut for the national team. He scored on his debut, of course.

In 2014, he was Brazil’s star player at a home World Cup, under Felipão. He started in blistering form: four goals in the group stage and an assist for David Luiz in the round of 16. But in the quarter-finals against Colombia, a nasty tackle by Juan Camilo Zúñiga fractured his vertebra and ruled him out of the tournament. What followed – the 7–1 defeat in the semi-final against Germany – went down in history for all the wrong reasons. But Neymar, even in his absence, was recognised: he won the tournament’s Bronze Boot and was named in the competition’s ‘Dream Team’.

In 2018, he reached the quarter-finals whilst still recovering from a metatarsal fracture. He scored two goals and provided two assists, but was not at his best. Brazil, now under Tite, were knocked out by Belgium’s ‘golden generation’.

And then came 2022 – the World Cup that seemed to be his. He was coming off one of the best spells of his career, leading a team that the world respected. In the round of 16, he scored a penalty and set up Vinícius Júnior against South Korea. In the quarter-finals, he scored a stunning goal in extra time against Croatia – one of those moments that seem to herald destiny. But Croatia equalised. And in the penalty shoot-out, the dream was over.

The images of Neymar crying, barely able to get up from the pitch, went viral. Shortly afterwards, on Instagram, he broke down: “I’m psychologically shattered; this was definitely the defeat that hurt me the most, the one that left me paralysed for 10 minutes and then had me crying non-stop. It’s going to hurt for a loooooong time, unfortunately. We fought until the end, and I’m proud of my teammates because there was no lack of effort or dedication. This squad deserved it, we deserved it, BRAZIL deserved it… But that wasn’t GOD’S will!” (Instagram)

Since then, the question has hung in the air: was that to be Neymar’s last World Cup?

Another chapter in the story

No. Fate had another chapter in store.

Neymar now joins a select group of Brazilians who have played in four World Cups – still a long way from Cafú, the only player to have taken part in five (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010), but in a league that few reach.

Ancelotti, when justifying the call-up of the number 10 – nominated nine times for the Ballon d’Or, but absent from over 100 matches due to injury since Qatar – was blunt: “We’ve been assessing Neymar all year and we’ve seen that in this latest period, he’s played consistently and improved his physical condition. We believe he is an important player for this World Cup. [...] He is an experienced player.” But he also made it clear that Neymar’s status and popularity among the fans will not mean he receives special treatment during the tournament: “He has the same role, the same obligations as all the other 25 players, and the same chance of playing or not playing, of being on the bench, of coming on… He has the same responsibility as the others.” (TNT Sports Brasil)

It is the moment of truth.

In the twilight of his career, back at Santos, bearing the weight of everything he has experienced and everything left behind – Neymar has one more chance to write the ending he always wanted for his story with the national team.

Only time will tell if this will be his year. But the call-up itself is, in a way, a victory.

Brazil at the 2026 World Cup: check out the squad

Goalkeepers

  • Alisson (Liverpool)

  • Ederson (Fenerbahçe)

  • Weverton (Grêmio)

Defenders

  • Bremer (Juventus)

  • Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)

  • Léo Pereira (Flamengo)

  • Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)

  • Roger Ibañez (Al-Ahli)

Full-backs

  • Alex Sandro (Flamengo)

  • Danilo (Flamengo)

  • Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint Petersburg)

  • Wesley (Roma)

Midfielders

  • Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United)

  • Casemiro (Manchester United)

  • Danilo (Botafogo)

  • Fabinho (Al-Ittihad)

  • Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo)

Forwards

  • Endrick (Olympique Lyon / Real Madrid)

  • Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

  • Igor Thiago (Brentford)

  • Luiz Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg)

  • Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)

  • Neymar (Santos)

  • Raphinha (Barcelona)

  • Rayan (Bournemouth)

  • Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)