Neymar returns to Brazil's World Cup squad after injury struggles

Neymar was named in Brazil’s World Cup squad on Monday, giving the 34-year-old forward a route back to football’s biggest stage after a long injury-hit stretch. For Carlo Ancelotti, it was a calculated call under intense World Cup pressure: Brazil’s new manager chose the country’s most recognizable attacker even as questions lingered over whether Neymar can withstand a full tournament load.

Ancelotti unveiled the roster at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, where dozens of journalists, music acts and celebrity guests filled the room as Brazil’s campaign took shape. The Italian coach, who took over in 2025, said he had evaluated Neymar across the year and selected him because the forward had been playing consistently and had improved physically. Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, has now been restored to the squad after a prolonged absence from the national team.

The decision also revealed how little room Brazil has for experimentation. The squad was largely kept intact from the qualifying campaign and recent friendlies, with Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha and Endrick expected to carry much of the attacking burden alongside Neymar. That group points to depth, but not to a settled, dominant front line. In that sense, Neymar’s return was not just a reward for his recovery, but a sign that Brazil still lacks a clear attacking alternative with equal authority or experience.

Brazil’s selection was also shaped by absences. Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Estevao were left out because of injury, while Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos were among the surprise omissions. Those decisions narrow Ancelotti’s options and make Neymar’s inclusion look less like sentiment and more like necessity. If Brazil wants to protect its status as a contender, the coach appears to believe he needs one more elite creator, even if that means betting on fitness that has not always held up.

Brazil will open its World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey, with the five-time champions chasing a record-extending sixth title. That goal demands both certainty and firepower, and Neymar offers the latter in a way few Brazilian players can. The risk is obvious: if his body holds, Brazil gains one more difference-maker. If it does not, the choice to lean on Neymar’s star power will be judged as the pressure point that defined Ancelotti’s first great gamble.