RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — In a stunning announcement that drew roars of approval from a gathered crowd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has recalled national team legend Neymar to the country’s 26-man roster for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a nearly three-year spell away from the senior side.
As Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 79 strikes across 128 international appearances, Neymar’s inclusion stands as the most high-profile and surprising selection in the squad unveiled at a public gala ceremony on Monday. The 34-year-old attacker, who has featured at every World Cup since 2014, has not represented the Seleção since he suffered a devastating knee injury during a 2023 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
For months, widespread speculation has swirled around Neymar’s potential return to international football. A string of recurring injury problems and inconsistent on-pitch form had kept him on the outside of the national team setup, and Ancelotti previously left him out of Brazil’s March friendly roster against France and Croatia, citing ongoing questions about his match fitness. After a injury-plagued spell playing in Saudi Arabia’s top flight, Neymar secured a move back to his boyhood club Santos in January 2026, a homecoming that many analysts predicted would revitalize his career ahead of a potential World Cup push.
Despite being limited to just 15 appearances across Santos’ 31 matches since his return, Neymar’s recent consistent performances and improved physical condition convinced Ancelotti that the veteran forward deserves a spot in the squad for the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. “We monitored Neymar throughout the year and observed that, in recent times, he has been playing consistently and his physical condition has improved,” Ancelotti told reporters following the announcement. “We believe he is an important player.”
Neymar will slot into an already fearsome Brazilian attacking group that includes Barcelona winger Raphinha and 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. The five-time World Cup-winning nation will enter the tournament chasing a historic sixth title, and will kick off its Group C campaign against Morocco on June 13, before facing subsequent group matches against Haiti and Scotland.
Alongside confirming the full roster, Ancelotti shared his perspective on what it will take to lift the sport’s biggest trophy this summer. “The World Cup won’t be won by a perfect team — because a perfect team doesn’t exist,” he said. “It will be won by the most resilient team.”
The full 26-man Brazil squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool, England), Ederson (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Weverton (Gremio, Brazil)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo, Brazil), Danilo (Flamengo, Brazil), Leo Pereira (Flamengo, Brazil), Bremer (Juventus, Italy), Douglas Santos (Zenit St Petersburg, Russia), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal, England), Ibanez (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Wesley (Roma, Italy)
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United, England), Casemiro (Manchester United, England), Danilo (Botafogo, Brazil), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo, Brazil)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon, France), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal, England), Igor Thiago (Brentford, England), Luiz Henrique (Zenit, Russia), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United, England), Neymar (Santos, Brazil), Raphinha (Barcelona, Spain), Rayan (Bournemouth, England), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Spain)