Rio de Janeiro, May 19: Neymar has been included in Brazil’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, set to take place in June. This marks Neymar’s return to the national team after a hiatus of two and a half years.
According to a report by the Xinhua News Agency, manager Carlo Ancelotti announced Neymar’s selection last, putting an end to the ongoing debates in Brazilian media regarding the team selection. Ancelotti stated at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, “We did not choose Neymar just because we think he can be a good backup; we selected him because he can bring life to the team with his skills. Whether he plays for one minute or 90 minutes, we need to focus on the quality of the total minutes spent on the pitch. He will play only when he deserves to, and that will be determined by training. It is essential that all expectations are not solely placed on one player.”
At 34 years old, Neymar has played 128 international matches for Brazil, scoring 79 goals. He holds the record for the most goals scored for the national team. Neymar’s last appearance in the Brazil jersey was in 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, where he sustained an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament.
The former forward for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain has struggled with injuries since then. After returning to his childhood club Santos in January last year, Neymar scored 17 goals in 38 matches across all competitions. Ancelotti remarked, “We have evaluated Neymar throughout the year. He is a crucial player and will be significant for us in this World Cup. His role and responsibilities are the same as those of the other 25 players.”
Brazil will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 13 against Morocco in New Jersey. Following that, the team will face Haiti and Scotland in Group C.
Brazil’s squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 includes:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahçe), Weverton (Grêmio)
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg)
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), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Ryan (Bournemouth).
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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