Neymar is back for Brazil, called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti for what is likely his fourth and final World Cup appearance. The 34-year-old forward, Brazil's all-time leading goal scorer, hasn't played for the national team since October 2023, when a devastating knee injury against Uruguay began a more than 600-day layoff. Since then, he has fought a string of injuries between stints in Saudi Arabia and at his boyhood club Santos.
His selection has divided the country. Announcing the squad at Rio de Janeiro's Museum of Tomorrow, Ancelotti drew a roar from the crowd when Neymar's name was read, but critics question whether his body can keep up with the demands of a high-intensity, pressing system.
This year, Neymar has six goals and four assists in 15 matches, his minutes carefully managed. Ancelotti expressed confidence Neymar could be ready for Brazil's opener on June 13. Teammates have backed him publicly, but Brazil's story in 2026 - for better or worse - will once again hinge on its talisman.