“Now the beautiful thing begins.” With these words, the Italian Carlo Ancelotti began this Monday afternoon the announcement of the forwards called up to play in the World Cup. I had already read the names of the goalkeepers, defenders and midfield players. And among those he mentioned then, there was the other man of the day in Brazil: Neymar Júnior. At 34 years old, the Santos player fulfills his dream and will compete in his fourth World Cup despite the multiple injuries that have hampered his career in recent times. Neymar, who has not played for the Canarinha for more than two years, is one of the most emblematic players in Brazil.
The expectation was maximum. Brazil had had Neymar for weeks in this World Cup that is being played in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Vinicius Júnior, from Real Madrid, Raphina, from Barcelona, and Endrick, who is playing on loan at Olympique Lyon, will also travel. Brazil, which aspires to win the sixth world championship, will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in the first phase.
Brazilian football has turned the presentation of the 26 chosen into a huge show, televised live and held at the Museu da Amanhã in Rio de Janeiro. Most of the 26 chosen play outside their country. Among those who play at home, Flamengo is the one with the most players called up.
Ancelotti explained that “it is not the perfect list because the perfect team does not exist,” but he stressed that he is working to make “Brazil the most resilient team.” He believes that the dream of winning a sixth World Cup is achievable. And, along those lines, he has highlighted that the high expectations of Brazilian fans are essential because they motivate the players.”
The coach, who has just renewed his contract for four more years, has joked about all the advice he has received in recent months from journalists, players, retired footballers… and even from some pilot who took him on a plane. “The technical commission has worked very seriously. I have all the information to make the list with fewer errors,” he said.
As Tostão, who played in the 1966 and 1970 World Cups, wrote this Monday, “there is a polarization, a technical tie between those who want to see it in the Cup and those who don’t.” The former footballer pointed out that the main argument to defend his absence from the Cup to be held in North America was that neither Neymar nor the public accept that he is secondary; On the opposite side are those who maintain that, even if he plays a few minutes, he has the talent to decide games.
Brazil, which aspires to break its own record and win the sixth world championship, will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in the first phase. This fourth World Cup will probably be one of the last international tournaments of his career for Neymar.
The Brazilian after an international career that took him to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. His stated goal was to prepare for the American World Cup, but since then his performance has been very irregular.
“Physically, I feel very good, I have been improving with each game,” he declared on Sunday, after the last game before the announcement, a Santos-Coritiba that ended in defeat for the first team. Ancelotti had warned that the presence or not of the Santos player in the World Cup would depend exclusively on his physical form. “I have done everything in my power, it has not been easy,” confessed the footballer before pointing out that “no matter what happens, Ancelotti will undoubtedly call the 26 best for this battle.”
Neymar has not played with the Canarinha since 2023 due to injuries and because he had to undergo knee surgery. In October of that year he tore the anterior cruciate ligament and menisci in his left leg in a match against Uruguay.
