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

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. Yet in the end, Ancelotti believed he was the man for the job, even if he is no longer a regular starter.

The decision ends months of speculation about Neymar's World Cup status, as the Brazil legend tried desperately to prove to Ancelotti he is fit and ready for action at FIFA's biggest tournament.

MORE: A comprehensive list of the injuries to key players on all World Cup qualified teams

Ancelotti has repeatedly questioned Neymar's fitness levels over recent months. The coach has never doubted the level of Neymar's play on the pitch, but rather his capability to perform at a high level over the course of a grueling month-long tournament in the United States.

"When you have to choose, you have to consider many things," Ancelotti told Reuters on May 12. "Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown. But he has had problems ​and is working hard to recover. He has improved a lot recently and is playing regularly. It is, obviously, not ⁠such an easy decision for me. We have to weigh up the pros and cons carefully."

"He has improved his fitness a lot in recent matches," Ancelotti continued. "He has played some very good matches lately. His fitness has improved. He can maintain a high intensity in a match. But there are matches and matches [at the World Cup]."

In the end, he was convinced, maybe not of Neymar's full match fitness but instead of his importance to the national team, as fans and media campaigned ruthlessly for his inclusion. The uproar in the media room after Ancelotti's announcement, with people jumping for joy and the CBF president asking for order, speaks volumes to Neymar's popularity across the nation.

Joao Pedro sacrificed for Neymar in Brazil World Cup roster

The biggest name left off the Brazil roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was Joao Pedro of Chelsea.

It was a shocking decision by Carlo Ancelotti, as the 24-year-old striker was considered a lock to make the squad.

Pedro has scored 20 goals across all competitions this season for Chelsea, with 15 of those coming in Premier League play. He has appeared in five of Brazil's last eight games, and has not yet scored an international goal.

Also excluded was another Chelsea man in Andrey Santos, who was snubbed amongst the midfielders in favor of two domestic-based players in Danilo Santos of Botafogo and Gerson of Cruzeiro. That also left Ederson of Atalanta on the outside of the list as well.

This is a developing story, and this section will be updated as more information becomes available and Carlo Ancelotti speaks to the media on his decision.