Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Neymar

Agence France-Presse

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil superstar Neymar was handed a dramatic recall to the country&#x27;s World Cup squad on Monday, returning to the national team after a near three-year absence.The inclusion of Neymar, Brazil&#x27;s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, was the biggest surprise in the 26-man squad named by coach Carlo Ancelotti.Ancelotti announced Neymar&#x27;s selection at a gala ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, with loud cheers ringing out as the veteran attacker&#x27;s call-up was confirmed.Speculation has raged for months over whether the 34-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker would force his way back into the national team set-up.The forward, a veteran of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, had not played for Brazil since suffering knee injury during a World Cup qualifying game against Uruguay in 2023.A mixture of injuries and poor form had left him outside the national team set-up, with Ancelotti citing concerns over his fitness after leaving him out of Brazil&#x27;s squad for March friendlies against France and Croatia.However Neymar, who rejoined boyhood club Santos in January after an injury-ravaged stint in Saudi Arabia, has now earned Ancelotti&#x27;s stamp of approval for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.&quot;We monitored Neymar throughout the year and observed that, in recent times, he has been playing consistently and his physical condition has improved,&quot; Ancelotti said. &quot;We believe he is an important player.&quot;Injuries have restricted Neymar to just 15 appearances in 31 matches since his return to Santos in 2026.Brazil, who are chasing a record sixth World Cup crown, open their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 before playing Haiti and Scotland in Group C.Neymar joins a potent line-up of attackers that includes Barcelona striker Raphinha and Real Madrid&#x27;s Vinicius Junior.Ancelotti meanwhile said he believed the World Cup would be won by the most &quot;resilient&quot; team.&quot;The World Cup won&#x27;t be won by a perfect team — because a perfect team doesn&#x27;t exist,&quot; he said. &quot;It will be won by the most resilient team.&quot;<div> </div>Squad:Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool/ENG), Ederson (Fenerbahce/TUR), Weverton (Gremio/BRA)Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo/BRA), Danilo (Flamengo/BRA), Leo Pereira (Flamengo/BRA), Bremer (Juventus/ITA), Douglas Santos (Zenit St Petersburg/RUS), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal/ENG), Ibanez (Al-Ahli/KSA), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Wesley (Roma/ITA)Midfielders Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle/ENG), Casemiro (Manchester United/ENG), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad/KSA), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo/BRA).Forwards: Endrick (Lyon/FRA), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal/ENG), Igor Thiago (Brentford/ENG), Luiz Henrique (Zenit/RUS), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United/ENG), Neymar (Santos/BRA), Raphinha (Barcelona/ESP), Rayan (Bournemouth/ENG), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/ESP)

Brazil superstar Neymar was handed a dramatic recall to the country's World Cup squad on Monday, returning to the national team after a near three-year absence.

Brazil superstar Neymar was handed a dramatic recall to the country's World Cup squad on Monday, returning to the national team after a near three-year absence.

Neymar back in Brazil squad for fourth World Cup

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Neymar back in Brazil squad for fourth World Cup

Agence France-Presse

Published May 19, 2026 01:53 PM PHT

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Updated May 19, 2026 02:09 PM PHT

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Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Neymar

FIFA World Cup

Carlo Ancelotti

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