NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
One of the most electric players of his generation will return for one last shot at World Cup glory.
Neymar has been called up to represent Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with manager Carlo Ancelotti signing the 34-year-old forward as part of the 26-man squad. The Italian coach took over in May 2025 had only summoned Neymar on Monday.
This will be Neymar’s fourth World Cup after making his debut in 2014, which was held in his home country. He helped win Olympic gold in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and is Brazil’s leading men’s scorer with 79 goals. But Neymar has struggled to return to peak fitness since tearing his left ACL in October 2023.
Neymar emerged at Santos as one of football’s brightest talents, winning domestic titles and the 2011 Copa Libertadores. He joined Barcelona in 2013 and won the 2015 UEFA Champions League. In 2017, Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain for a world record fee and he collected several league titles despite recurring injuries. A brief stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal then followed after he returned to his boyhood club Santos.
Ancelotti’s 26-man squad also, as expected, features Brazil’s key players in recent years, Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior and Barcelona forward Raphinha.
Brazil’s 26-man roster:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth).
