Neymar Jr joins Brazil squad for first time since 2023 ahead of 2026 World Cup

Neymar Jr joins Brazil squad for first time since 2023 ahead of 2026 World Cup Carlo Ancelotti calls up the veteran attacker as Brazil chases a record sixth World Cup title on North American soil Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 24, 2026 Neymar Jr is back in green and gold. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti named the 34-year-old in the country’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 18, 2026, ending an absence from the national team that stretched back to 2023.

The return is significant for reasons that go beyond one player’s name on a roster sheet. Neymar’s last three years have been defined almost entirely by injury, and his inclusion signals that Ancelotti believes the Santos forward is fit enough to contribute at a tournament Brazil is treating as a genuine title opportunity. What the squad looks like Brazil’s attacking options read like a who’s-who of modern football.

Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha anchor the forward line alongside Neymar, while teenager Endrick’s inclusion signals that Ancelotti is building for now and later simultaneously. Advertisement The tournament itself is an expanded edition, co-hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Brazil enters chasing a sixth World Cup title, a record that no other nation holds. Neymar’s Santos affiliation at the time of selection is worth noting. Returning to the club where he started his career was already a story of its own.

Getting called back into the national squad on top of that makes 2026 look like a full-circle moment for a player whose last few years were spent watching from treatment tables. The crypto angle: more historical footnote than live market story Neymar has a documented history with digital assets, though none of it connects to this squad announcement in any material way. He signed an exclusive licensing deal with NFT platform NFTSTAR in November 2021, and in January 2022 he purchased two Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, placing him among the wave of celebrities who entered that market near its peak.

A community-driven token called $NEY also exists, with a portion of creator fees reportedly directed toward Instituto Neymar Jr., though the token carries no official backing from Neymar or his representatives. None of those developments are new, and the squad announcement has not produced any official Neymar-branded digital asset or NFT collection.

The crypto market’s response to his return has been essentially flat. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

SOCCER Neymar Jr joins Brazil squad for first time since 2023 ahead of 2026 World Cup Carlo Ancelotti calls up the veteran attacker as Brazil chases a record sixth World Cup title on North American soil by Editorial Team Jun. 24, 2026 Share Add us on Google Neymar Jr is back in green and gold. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti named the 34-year-old in the country’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 18, 2026, ending an absence from the national team that stretched back to 2023.

The return is significant for reasons that go beyond one player’s name on a roster sheet. Neymar’s last three years have been defined almost entirely by injury, and his inclusion signals that Ancelotti believes the Santos forward is fit enough to contribute at a tournament Brazil is treating as a genuine title opportunity. What the squad looks like Brazil’s attacking options read like a who’s-who of modern football.

Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha anchor the forward line alongside Neymar, while teenager Endrick’s inclusion signals that Ancelotti is building for now and later simultaneously. Advertisement The tournament itself is an expanded edition, co-hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Brazil enters chasing a sixth World Cup title, a record that no other nation holds. Neymar’s Santos affiliation at the time of selection is worth noting. Returning to the club where he started his career was already a story of its own.

Getting called back into the national squad on top of that makes 2026 look like a full-circle moment for a player whose last few years were spent watching from treatment tables. The crypto angle: more historical footnote than live market story Neymar has a documented history with digital assets, though none of it connects to this squad announcement in any material way. He signed an exclusive licensing deal with NFT platform NFTSTAR in November 2021, and in January 2022 he purchased two Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, placing him among the wave of celebrities who entered that market near its peak.

A community-driven token called $NEY also exists, with a portion of creator fees reportedly directed toward Instituto Neymar Jr., though the token carries no official backing from Neymar or his representatives. None of those developments are new, and the squad announcement has not produced any official Neymar-branded digital asset or NFT collection.

The crypto market’s response to his return has been