Neymar made Brazil’s World Cup squad on Monday, a selection many local analysts and former footballers deemed unlikely only days ago.
The 34-year-old Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top goal-scorer with 79 but has struggled to return to top fitness since he tore his left ACL in October 2023.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad also features, as expected, Brazil’s main players in recent years, Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha.
Brazil’s World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Éderson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Douglas Santos(Zenit St. Petersburg)
Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos(Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth).