After nearly two years away from international football, Neymar is officially back with Brazil national football team. New head coach Carlo Ancelotti announced Brazil’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 this week, with Neymar’s return becoming the biggest headline.

The Brazilian superstar has not appeared for his national team since October 2023 after battling a series of injuries that sidelined him for an extended period. Despite questions surrounding his fitness and recent form, Ancelotti made it clear that Neymar’s importance to Brazil goes beyond statistics.

“Neymar is much loved,” Ancelotti recently said, emphasizing the veteran forward’s leadership, talent, and popularity within the dressing room. The legendary coach also praised Neymar’s hard work during recovery and noted that the 34-year-old has shown major improvement in recent months.

Since returning to Santos FC earlier this year, Neymar has quietly regained rhythm in Brazil’s Série A, contributing four goals and two assists in eight league matches. He remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals for the national team and is still viewed as one of the country’s most important players heading into the tournament.

His inclusion comes only days after Neymar was involved in a bizarre controversy during a match against Coritiba, where officials mistakenly substituted him out of the game despite confusion over the substitution card. The incident quickly went viral across Brazilian football media.

Now, however, the focus shifts back to the World Cup stage. Brazil enters the tournament hoping Neymar can help lead the Seleção on one final deep run, potentially marking the last World Cup appearance of one of the greatest Brazilian players of his generation.