Carlo Ancelotti has selected his final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, which sees Neymar in the side while Joo Pedro has been left out.
The decision to include Neymar marks his first major international selection for Brazil since suffering a serious ankle injury earlier in his career, but it is a testament to the veteran attacker’s quality in international competitions.
It also marks his fourth World Cup as he searches to win the only major trophy that has evaded him so far in his illustrious career for the Brazil national football team. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward is still Brazil’s leading goal scorer with 79 international goals and holds 8 World Cup goals and three assists to his name from four previous tournaments.
This call-up was always expected by fans to see whether the star attacker would be given the opportunity to represent his country one last time at the World Cup. The forward is one of the top performers for Brazil at the World Cup, only placing below legends such as Ronaldo, Pelé, and Jairzinho on the country’s goal-scoring chart at the tournament.
There is also a place in the squad for Liverpool’s Alisson Becker despite an extended absence through injury, with a place also reserved for the young 19-year-old sensation Endrick, who was handed a call-up. It is a harsh disappointment for Joo Pedro, however, as the talented forward has been left out of Ancelotti’s final squad despite an outstanding season in the Premier League.
The former Premier League attacking sensation has enjoyed a prolific campaign in England this season with 20 goals in the Premier League so far, but was ultimately not given a place in the final squad by Carlo Ancelotti. There is an abundance of riches in the forward department with Vincius Jr., Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, Luis Henrique, and Igor Thiago all named in a star-studded attack.
Full Brazil squad:
Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio);
Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Gabriel (Arsenal), Roger Ibanez (Al-Ahi), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma);
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo);
Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luis Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).
