Neymar and His Last Chance to Dance the Samba at the World Cup

Neymar hasn’t played for Brazil since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in October 2023, and his participation in the 2026 World Cup was a big question mark until Carlo Ancelotti finalized the squad.

Neymar in 2023 wearing the Brazil national team jersey. Photo: Reuters

It’s hard to tell if those were Neymar’s genuine emotions, but he broke down in tears on May 17th when the Brazilian national anthem played at Santos’ Urbano-Caldeira stadium, just before the match against Coritiba. Holding his young daughter in his arms, he stood before the cameras of an entire nation focused on him. The following day, Ancelotti will announce the 26-man Brazilian squad for the 2026 World Cup, putting an end to a thrilling chapter fueled by media frenzy.

For months in Brazil, all the debate has revolved around the former Barcelona and PSG star’s chances of participating in the biggest football event on the planet this summer. This context has tested the patience of the Italian strategist. “I appreciate all the advice given to me,” Ancelotti shared a few days ago in an interview with Reuters. “The environment around the team is well controlled and will remain so until the end of the World Cup, whether Neymar is there or not.”

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 matches, at the age of 34, dreamed of his “last Samba dance” on the world stage and did everything to achieve it. He played in 10 of Santos’s last 13 matches, receiving strong support from various levels of world football as well as from his teammates in the dressing room.

This inadvertently created suffocating pressure on Ancelotti, who always considered Neymar’s fitness to be the primary factor in his decision to call him back. “He has improved a lot recently, is working hard to recover, and has played,” the 66-year-old coach once admitted. “Whether Neymar is selected or not depends entirely on himself.”

 

 

Ancelotti in a recent interview with Reuters. Photo: Reuters

The weeks leading up to the crucial match became a race against time, leaving Neymar’s mental state fragile. He repeatedly lost his temper, clashing with home fans and colliding with his younger teammate Robinho Jr. during training. These news stories were rampant in the media, putting Neymar at a disadvantage.

In the 0-3 defeat against Coritiba, witnessing his team’s humiliating loss, Neymar again lost his temper with the referee over a rare substitution error. Images of his anger immediately flooded social media, despite the fact that the striker was enduring pain in his calf. Every minute on the pitch was crucial for the 1992-born star. He wanted to prove himself to Ancelotti.

“I’ve always said that my dream was to play in this World Cup,” Neymar shared in the mixed zone after the match. “Physically, I feel very good. I’ve tried my best, worked hard in silence, endured criticism, but I’m where I want to be. I hope I’ll be called. Whatever happens, I will still be a loyal Selecao fan.”

Neymar was furious at the referee’s wrong substitution decision in the Santos – Coritiba match on May 17th. Photo: Reuters

The breathtaking announcement and Neymar’s tears

Who says the Brazilian people are no longer passionate about the national team? On the evening of May 18th, over a hundred fans gathered at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro to wish the team good luck and pressure for a spot in the 26-man squad for Neymar.

Despite having previously kept his distance from Neymar, Ancelotti clearly felt the growing wave of support from fans before the announcement. Despite off-field controversies and sometimes worrying performances, he listened to the voices of key players like Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, and Casemiro – all of whom wanted to travel to North America with their number 10.

After a somewhat drawn-out opening with music and a series of speeches from sponsors, Ancelotti stepped onto the stage before over 1,200 guests and 700 press corps-accredited journalists. Because the information had been kept completely secret beforehand, the entire room held its breath as each name was called. The former Real Madrid manager also knew how to prolong the suspense before revealing his hand. “The best is yet to come,” he hinted before reading the forwards’ names in alphabetical order.

 

The auditorium erupted during the announcement of the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup when Neymar’s name was called. Photo: Reuters

After Endrick’s name – who ignited the excitement of the guests – the strategist born in 1959 officially called Neymar’s name, creating resounding cheers throughout the auditorium.

“We’ve been evaluating Neymar throughout the past year,” Ancelotti explained in his subsequent press conference. “He’s an important player and will continue to be so at this World Cup. Neymar has the same role and responsibilities as the other 25 players. He can start, be a substitute, or come on as a substitute. The responsibility is fair. I want to be clear and honest. Neymar will play if he deserves it. But it’s important not to put all the expectations on one person.”

In the auditorium, many people hugged each other, while legends like Bebeto and Jorginho could only gape in astonishment. When the ceremony ended, everyone chanted Ancelotti’s name as if he had just scored a masterpiece.

More than 350 kilometers away as the crow flies, at his home in Sao Paulo, Neymar and a large number of family and friends watched Ancelotti’s announcement. When his name was called, he threw his arms in the air, bent over, and covered his head in joy. Cheers erupted around him.

 

Neymar celebrated his call-up by embracing physiotherapist Rafael Martini. Photo: YouTube/Neymar Jr

Neymar hugged physiotherapist Rafael Martini and fitness coach Ricardo Rosa, two key figures in his injury recovery. “It’s hard to put into words the emotions I’ve felt,” Neymar shared. “I want to thank everyone at Santos. This call-up isn’t just for me, but for everyone who has been with me throughout this journey. Those who have been by my side on the pitch, off the pitch, those who have taken care of my fitness down to my meals.”

“I cried for hours because reaching this milestone was not easy at all. Those who have been with me throughout this time understand how difficult and arduous it has been. But after hearing my name on the list, all the sacrifices and efforts were completely worthwhile,” Neymar emphasized.

The reconciliation call

A day after Ancelotti’s press conference, the Brazilian newspaper O Globo revealed that the Italian coach and Brazil’s national team director Rodrigo Caetano had a video call with Neymar on May 14th. That conversation became the basis for the decision to include the Santos star in the 26-man squad for the North American tournament.

Ancelotti and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) leadership wanted to outline some important conditions before making a final decision. He stated that if Neymar returned to the national team, he would no longer wear the captain’s armband, affirmed that he already had a starting lineup in mind, and would not include the superstar number 10 in the starting XI in the initial phase. He also explained the new operational and disciplinary regulations that have been implemented since the new coaching staff took over.

Neymar was also informed of the strict limitations in the current national team environment, compared to the privileges he enjoyed years before. Ancelotti and Caetano also offered advice, such as minimizing his presence on social media. On the other end of the line, the Santos number 10 received this unexpected call positively and promised to do his best to contribute to the team.

This was the first direct conversation between Ancelotti and Neymar since last September. O Globo confirmed that Neymar’s willingness to learn and accept a new role convinced the veteran strategist. A day later, Ancelotti and the CBF members almost unanimously agreed to call him up.

On the morning of May 18th, the CBF closely monitored Neymar’s health after he suffered a calf injury during the match between Santos and Coritiba. Receiving positive signals that no serious injury had been detected, the final decision was made: Neymar was included and Joao Pedro was dropped.

Immediately after the list was announced, Ancelotti appeared on the Jornal Nacional program and shared with close associates that Neymar had sent him a thank-you message. The message was accompanied by green and yellow heart emojis. Communication channels that seemed to have been frozen for months between the two have now been restored just before the World Cup.

Neymar’s commercial power and global influence

Officially included in the 2026 World Cup squad, Neymar immediately activated his social media channels to promote three major sponsor brands.

In the media, from sports to entertainment, many people whisper that any news or event related to Neymar generates a huge number of clicks, views, and interactions from all segments of the audience.

The 34-year-old striker is currently the Brazilian with the most followers on Instagram with 231 million. In the world of football, he ranks in the top 3 globally, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

His return to Santos in January 2025 also helped the club lead the ranking of social media follower growth this year, surpassing Palmeiras to join the group of teams with the largest fan base.

Neymar is always the center of attention, whether it’s controversies with fans or just a small gesture on the field.

“Neymar is a ‘media explosion’ and a magnet connecting brands across many different sectors,” said Rene Salviano, CEO of Heatmap and a sports sponsorship and branding expert.

Despite not having played for the Brazilian national team since 2023, Neymar is still considered a Brazilian athlete with immense commercial value.

“The Neymar brand is still on a phenomenal growth trajectory,” emphasizes Ivan Martinho, professor of sports marketing at ESPM.

Even when not playing for the national team, he still delivers something the market desperately craves: a large reach and high engagement rates.