Nine days before Carlo Ancelotti announces the Brazil squad for World Cup 2026, the biggest question in international football hasn’t changed: will Neymar make it?
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals was named in the preliminary 55-man list submitted to FIFA this week. But the final 26, which will be announced May 18, is a different conversation entirely. Neymar hasn’t played for Brazil since October 2023. He’s 34. He’s had two knee surgeries in 18 months. And yet Messi, Ronaldinho and Casemiro are all publicly backing him. Whether he actually features in the final Brazil World Cup 2026 squad, which Ancelotti names on May 18 is yet to be known. Here’s where things actually stand.
Neymar’s 2026 Season — The Numbers
Since returning from knee surgery in February, Neymar has been building fitness at Santos. The output has been encouraging:
| Stat | 2026 Season (All Comps) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 12 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Full 90 mins completed | 9 of 12 |
| Avg FotMob Rating (Serie A) | 7.62 |
| Last Brazil cap | October 2023 |
Recent form highlights:
- Scored 2 goals in a 2-1 win over Vasco da Gama (Feb 26) — 9.0 match rating
- Completed 90 mins in 3 games across 9 days in April (Atletico Mineiro, Recoleta, Fluminense)
- Scored and drew 9 fouls in the Copa Sudamericana draw vs Recoleta (May 5) — 8.8 match rating, Man of the Match
- Santos coach Cuca: “Neymar is improving with every game. His movement on the ball is much better.”
The numbers paint a player who can still hurt defences. What they don’t answer is whether the Brasileirao is a meaningful barometer for World Cup intensity.
What Carlo Ancelotti Has Said on Neymar World Cup 2026 Inclusion
Ancelotti has kept the door open without committing. Key quotes from lsat few months:
After the March friendlies: Fans chanted Neymar’s name during Brazil’s 2-1 loss to France. Ancelotti dismissed it, saying focus should be on the players selected.
April (L’Equipe): “He is capable of getting back to 100%. He still has two months to show that he has what it takes.”
On squad policy: “I’ve said this several times — I’ll call up the players who are physically ready.”
The pattern is consistent. Ancelotti respects Neymar’s talent but won’t bend his fitness criteria. The preliminary 55-man squad keeps the option alive. The final 26 on May 18 is the only decision that matters.
The Neymar Robinho Jr Incident — A Problem?
The trending story this week complicates things. During a Santos training session on May 4, Neymar slapped 18-year-old teammate Robinho Jr — the son of former Brazil and Real Madrid winger Robinho — after the youngster dribbled past him in a drill.
What happened next:
- Santos opened an internal investigation
- Robinho Jr’s representatives lodged formal complaints
- Neymar apologised publicly after the Recoleta match, saying “I crossed the line”
- Robinho Jr accepted the apology: “Everything is resolved. He’s been my idol since I was 8.”
- Both players embraced during the goal celebration
The incident is over. But a 34-year-old slapping a teenager weeks before a World Cup squad decision isn’t a good look — especially with a manager who values squad discipline as highly as Ancelotti does.
What Messi and Ronaldinho Have Said On Neymar At World Cup 2026
The backing from football’s biggest names has been emphatic.
Lionel Messi (Lo Del Pollo show, May 8):
“I can’t be very objective, he’s a friend of mine. Obviously, I would love for him to be at the World Cup and for beautiful things to happen to him because he deserves it. At World Cups, we always want the best players to be there, and Neymar, as long as he’s around, will always be one of them.”
Ronaldinho (conversation with Denilson, GeGlobo, May 8):
“It would be crazy [to leave Neymar out]. The only way I would understand it is if there’s some injury issue. But if he’s healthy, there’s no way he shouldn’t go. With all due respect to everyone else, in my opinion, he’s the best of them all.”
Casemiro (ESPN Brasil, May 4):
“If Ancelotti proposes a bench role to him, I think he will want to go. He wants to play in a World Cup. Neymar doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone — it all depends on whether he can get as close as possible to his best physical condition.”
Casemiro’s suggestion of a defined impact role — 20-30 minutes off the bench in specific matches — is the most realistic pathway into the Brazil squad for World Cup 2026.
Brazil’s Forward Options — The Competition
This is what makes the decision genuinely hard. Ancelotti’s March squad included nine forwards. Adding Neymar means dropping someone — or sacrificing depth in midfield.
| Player | Club | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vinícius Jr | Real Madrid | Certain starter, untouchable |
| Raphinha | Barcelona | Certain starter, career-best form |
| Estêvão | Chelsea | In squad if fit, minor injury concern |
| Matheus Cunha | Manchester United | Versatile, Ancelotti favourite |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | Reliable squad player |
| Endrick | Lyon (loan from Real Madrid) | Impact sub, rediscovered form |
| Luiz Henrique | Zenit | Reportedly assured of a spot |
| Igor Thiago | Brentford | First call-up in March, traditional No.9 |
| João Pedro | Chelsea | In the frame, centre-forward option |
The tactical problem: Ancelotti plays without a traditional No. 9 — his system is built on speed, interchanging positions and pressing. Neymar at 34, playing in the Brasileirao, doesn’t naturally fit this profile. But what Neymar offers — a set-piece threat, the ability to unlock tight knockout games in the final third, and sheer tournament experience — is something none of the above can replicate.
Our Verdict — Will Neymar Make the Brazil Squad for World Cup 2026?
The case for Neymar starts with what no statistic can fully capture, which is his stature. This is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals, a player who has been to three World Cups and knows what knockout-stage pressure feels like. His 5 goals and 3 assists in 12 appearances since returning from surgery show the talent hasn’t disappeared, even if the body has slowed. And the preliminary 55-man squad confirms Ancelotti hasn’t closed the door.
But the case against is equally real. Neymar hasn’t played international football for 19 months, which is the longest absence of his career. He’s performing in the Brasileirao, not against Champions League defenders. Two knee surgeries since December 2023 make durability across a month-long tournament a genuine gamble. The Neymar Robinho Jr training ground incident, however resolved, raised questions about temperament at a moment when Ancelotti needed to see maturity. Sentiment is powerful, but so is the argument that Brazil’s future shouldn’t be sacrificed for one last dance.
Our call: Neymar makes the 26, but only just — as the last forward named, with a clearly defined role as an impact substitute. Ancelotti is pragmatic enough to see the tactical value and experienced enough to manage the ego. But if Neymar picks up even a minor knock between now and May 18, the door closes permanently. This is, as Neymar himself has said, “my last shot, my last chance.”
Brazil announce their final squad for World Cup 2026 in nine days. The answer comes then.
Fans heading to North America can check whether FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are still available.
