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Neymar was visibly emotional as he learned of his selection in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. The veteran forward shared a heartfelt video capturing his tearful reaction, surrounded by his partner Bruna Biancardi and close companions, celebrating a remarkable comeback to international football after a tough period recovering from injury.

An emotional comeback for Neymar

The 34-year-old star could not contain his emotions after Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed his spot in the 26-man squad. Neymar later posted a touching video on social media, showing himself in tears beside Biancardi and his close circle as his name was announced.

He wrote in the caption: “My vision of one of the most emotional and happiest days of my life is already there on the YouTube channel AND THANK YOU, BRAZIL.” The call-up marks a major milestone following his long recovery from a torn ACL sustained in October 2023. As Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 international matches, Neymar has demonstrated his readiness to compete on football’s biggest stage for a fourth time.

Ancelotti backs his experienced forward

Carlo Ancelotti faced questions over his choice to include Neymar ahead of younger, in-form forwards, but the Italian coach strongly defended his decision during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. “He has improved his fitness,” Ancelotti said, as reported by ESPN. “He will be an important player in this World Cup. He has experience in this kind of competition, the love of our group; he can create a better environment in this group. We chose Neymar not because we think he’ll be a good substitute. We chose Neymar because we believe he can help the team, whether it’s for one minute, five minutes, 90 minutes or even taking a penalty.”

Disappointment for Chelsea’s Joao Pedro

While Neymar stole the spotlight, the squad announcement brought heartbreak for Chelsea striker Joao Pedro. The 24-year-old enjoyed a superb season, netting 15 goals and providing five assists in the Premier League, tallying 25 goal contributions across all competitions. Despite his impressive form, Pedro expressed his disappointment online, writing: “I tried to give my best at all times. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be. Joys and frustrations are part of football. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there.”

Brazil’s next steps

With the final squad confirmed, Brazil will now turn their attention to preparations for the 2026 World Cup to be held in North America. Before beginning their group stage campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13, the team will play two key warm-up matches against Panama and Egypt to refine their tactical setup.