Why Neymar was included in Brazil's World Cup roster in ruthless Carlo Ancelotti decision

Why Neymar was included in Brazil's World Cup roster in ruthless Carlo Ancelotti decision originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The 2026 World Cup brings global storylines from the moment the first game kicks off to the final whistle of the title match, slated this year for July 19 at MetLife Stadium.

However, the soccer showcase often provides major talking points before we even get to the games, and that is the case this year as official tournament rosters were slowly released one by one through mid-May. One of the most eagerly anticipated announcements was Brazil's on May 18, and head coach Carlo Ancelotti made a major call on his 26-man roster, with the fate of a legend hanging in the balance. In the end, the room erupted as Neymar's name was read out by Ancelotti, including the 34-year-old legend in his squad for the World Cup while leaving a few other big names out.

The Sporting News details the reasoning behind Ancelotti's decision. MORE: A full look at the 26 players called up by Carlo Ancelotti to represent Brazil Why Neymar was included Brazil's World Cup roster Ancelotti's shocking decision to include Neymar from the country's 26-man squad for the coming World Cup was made official on May 18, and it came at the expense of another big name. The forward was indeed amongst the list of 26 names announced at a special event in Rio de Janeiro.

Now 34 years old, Neymar is the all-time leading scorer in Brazil history, with 79 goals in 128 international appearances. However, he has not played a game for the national team since tearing the ACL and meniscus in his left knee in a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay in October 2023. The player has struggled for fitness since that time, finding it difficult to prove he is ready for consistent, long-term minutes even after returning to boyhood club Santos in early 2025.