The selection call, last Monday (18), has so many points of view that it is difficult to know where to start.
Imagining that the starting point should be football, I don’t see any absurdity in the call. The average age of those called up is 28.6 years old, the second highest in Brazil at a World Cup — a clear preference for experience and very specific player profiles and a space for “football is not an exact science”, justifying Neymar’s presence.
Between discussions between defenders, goalkeepers and midfielders, everyone’s expectations were focused on the attack.
Where “the beauty comes”, according to Ancelotti, are nine players for four positions. Four doubles and an extra card, that of Igor Thiago, to enter in moments when tactics take a backseat. On the left, Raphinha should be the starter and Gabriel Martinelli his reserve. On the right, Luiz Henrique starts in front and Rayan is his partner. As an attacker on the left, but closer to the area, Vinicius Jr. is plan A and Neymar comes in as an option. Matheus Cunha and Endrick enter the attacking position on the right.
Rayan and Endrick take the positions of Estêvão and João Pedro. And Neymar enters what could be Rodrygo’s. At the press conference, Ancelotti explained that Santos’ number 10 doesn’t lack technique and that, physically, he counts on him. He clarified that his presence cannot be explained just by numbers, “football is not an exact science”, betting on the technical ability that we all know Neymar has.
The point is that the level will need to rise. With better teammates than he has at Santos, the chance of having better conversations increases. Against better defenses in the World Cup than the one found in Brazil, the degree of difficulty as well. In the end, Ancelotti is betting that it is possible to play better. What was shown in the first months of 2026 seems insufficient to me.
Someone could argue that Gabriel Martinelli, with three goals in the last 35 games and just one in the Premier League, also doesn’t play enough, but that doesn’t mean he was questioned so much. It’s a false symmetry, because Martinelli is not expected to be a player who decides games or pulls rabbits out of a hat. Effort, ball recovery, constant runs at high speed are expected from him. And Neymar doesn’t do that. Something different is asked and expected from each player.
Looking beyond football, the event organized by the CBF seemed like a trap for the coach. An entire afternoon of speeches and tributes, with artists, influencers and fans present to increase the expectation of knowing if a name would be among the Italian’s 26.
If he didn’t call up Neymar, Ancelotti would certainly be booed and would not have the peace to leave the building. “Museum of Tomorrow” would be a good metaphor for what his work would become. Memories of an uncertain future, such would be the pressure on his shoulders.
After the ceremony and Neymar’s confirmation, a witch hunt began for those who question the player’s presence in the World Cup. Profiles on social networks, eager to monetize verified accounts, sought to find ways to build villains and heroes through aggressive engagement from fans and haters.
On the field, there is no absurdity in the list. Carlo Ancelotti is one of the greatest winners in history and understands the game a lot to make good decisions. Outside the four lines, the ecosystem of the Brazilian team at the World Cup seems infected by euphoria, hate speech and war for the protagonism of vampires in search of fame.
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