Ancelotti revealed the roster at midnight on Monday (Bangladesh Time), kickstarting Brazil’s highly anticipated mission to secure their historic sixth (“Hexa”) World Cup title.
The announcement followed a grand, hour-long ceremony filled with music and dance.
Speculation over whether Neymar would make the final cut had reached a fever pitch before Ancelotti took the stage to announce the players, position by position.
Surprises and Star Power in Attack
While naming the forwards, Ancelotti pulled off an early surprise by including 19-year-old prodigy Endrick.
Despite limited playing time at Real Madrid, the young forward turned heads and won over the Italian coach during a successful loan spell at French club Lille.
As names like Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Luiz Henrique, and Matheus Cunha were called, the tension rose.
But the moment Ancelotti finally uttered the name “Neymar,” the crowd erupted into thunderous applause, forcing the coach to pause his speech for a few moments.
The Long Road Back for the Sub-79 Goal Icon
The crowd’s overwhelming reaction underscored how deeply Brazilians longed for the talisman’s return. Neymar suffered a devastating injury while on national duty in October 2023, sidelining him for an extended period. His recovery was plagued by recurring fitness issues and a loss of form, keeping him off the pitch for a long time.
Determined to revive his career and make the World Cup squad, the former Barcelona and PSG superstar parted ways with Saudi club Al-Hilal to return to his boyhood club, Santos, in January 2025. Despite facing continuous physical hurdles, his resilience paid off.
Neymar makes his international comeback after more than two and a half years, carrying the pride of being Brazil’s top international goalscorer with 79 goals.
After the crowd settled down, Ancelotti completed the star-studded attack by naming Raphinha, Rayan, and Vinicius Junior.
World Cup Group and Schedule
Brazil will begin their World Cup campaign on June 13 against Morocco. Placed in Group C, the five-time world champions will also face Haiti and Scotland in the group stage.
Brazil’s Official 26-Man World Cup Squad:
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Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Weverton
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Defenders: Alex Sandro, Bremer, Danilo, Douglas Santos, Gabriel Magalhães, Ibañez, Léo Pereira, Marquinhos
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Midfielders: Wesley, Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Danilo Senior, Fabinho, Lucas Paquetá
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Forwards: Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Neymar, Raphinha, Rayan, Vinicius Junior.