Carlo Ancelotti has named Neymar in Brazil's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico, in a decision that surprised many observers and sparked fierce debate across the country. The 34-year-old forward, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 international appearances, has not featured for the Seleção since October 2023, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee and suffered a meniscus injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

Ancellotti, the Italian manager who took charge of Brazil in May 2025, had previously omitted Neymar from squads for friendly matches against France and Croatia earlier this year, repeatedly emphasising that selection would be based on fitness and form rather than sentiment. Neymar's recall follows his return to Santos — the Brazilian club where he began his career — at the start of 2025, where he has appeared in seventeen official matches, contributing eleven goals and four assists. Ancelotti appeared ultimately convinced that the forward had done enough to merit inclusion on footballing grounds, despite concerns over his readiness for the tournament's demands.

The selection ignited a national conversation in Brazil about whether a player with such an extensive injury history could justify a place. Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva even entered the debate publicly, revealing in a television interview that Ancelotti had personally consulted him on the matter. A national poll found that 53 percent of Brazilians agreed the decision should rest solely on footballing merit. Former Argentina and Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi backed Neymar's inclusion, arguing that