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The 2026 World Cup is poised to be a landmark event for multiple reasons.
Not only will it be the biggest edition of the competition ever—featuring a record-breaking 48 nations—and the first to span three host countries, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, but it will also signal the farewell of several of football's modern legends.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić are all anticipated to make their final appearances on the world stage with Argentina, Portugal and Croatia respectively—drawing the curtain on three iconic international careers.
Another superstar who could be bowing out at his last World Cup is Neymar. However, unlike the others, his inclusion in Brazil's squad is anything but assured.
So, what are the odds of Neymar boarding the plane as part of Carlo Ancelotti's setup?
Will Neymar Play at the 2026 World Cup?
Neymar remains Brazil's all-time top scorer and one of the most talented players the nation has ever seen—yet his participation at the 2026 World Cup is far from a foregone conclusion.
Now 34, the attacker has endured a torrid few years blighted by injuries, along with brief stints at Al Hilal and a homecoming to childhood club Santos in January 2025. He has not pulled on the Brazil shirt since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in October 2023.
When addressing Neymar's prospects of earning a squad berth, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti indicated the door remains ajar. The forward, who missed the early portion of Santos' campaign following knee surgery in December but has shown promise when available, is still being considered.
"He's currently being evaluated by the CBF and by me, and he still has two months to show he has the qualities to play in the next World Cup," Ancelotti said in an interview with L'Équipe.
"I'm going to call up players who are physically ready," he added. "After his knee injury, Neymar has come back well—he's scoring goals. He needs to continue like this and improve his fitness. He's on the right track."
Neymar is anticipated to appear in a preliminary 55-man squad ahead of the tournament, though his inclusion in the final roster—capped at 26 players—remains uncertain.
Attackers such as Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, Rayan, Vinícius Júnior and João Pedro were named in Brazil's March international window, underlining the fierce competition for attacking spots.
Neymar acknowledged his frustration at being left out but made clear his determination hasn't wavered.
"Obviously I'm upset and sad not to have been selected," he said during a broadcast of Kings League Brazil, via ESPN Brasil. "But the focus remains the same—day after day, training session after training session, match after match. We'll achieve our goal. There's still one final squad announcement to go, and the dream lives on."
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Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.