'Neymar's Surprise World Cup Selection' Ancelotti: "Analyzed Him All Year, Sad to Exclude Joao Pedro"

*This content was translated by AI.

Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), head coach of the Brazil national football team, expressed hope that Neymar (34, Santos) "will play a key role for the Woo Ri (CEO) team" in this World Cup, following the surprise announcement of his inclusion in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup final squad.

Coach Ancelotti explained at a press conference held on the 19th (Korean time) at the Amapa Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the announcement of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup final squad, "We analyzed Neymar throughout the year. After confirming his consistent recent performances and good condition, we decided to include him."

Neymar, who debuted for the Brazil A national team in 2010, is a legendary forward ranked first in all-time Brazil A-match goals (79) and second in all-time appearances (128). However, since the end of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup South American qualifiers against Uruguay in October 2023, he has been absent from the national team for over two and a half years.

Neymar suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his knee during the Uruguay match, forcing him to leave the field and dedicate himself to rehabilitation for an extended period. Even after returning to the pitch, Coach Ancelotti overlooked Neymar. Given Brazil's deep pool of attacking players, combined with Neymar's injury history, his considerable age, and the period of his exclusion from the Oh Raen (CEO) team, it seemed almost certain that he would be left out of the North American World Cup roster.

However, Coach Ancelotti consistently monitored Neymar's physical condition and match performance, and after much deliberation, included him in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup final squad. Returning to the national team after two years and seven months, Neymar will participate in the World Cup finals for the fourth consecutive time, starting from the 2014 tournament in his home country.

According to local media UOL, Coach Ancelotti struggled to decide between Neymar and Joao Pedro (25, Chelsea). Joao Pedro, a forward who has recorded 23 goals and 6 assists in 52 official matches this season, including 15 goals and 5 assists in the English Premier League (EPL), was ultimately left out of the World Cup squad in favor of Neymar. Neymar has recorded 6 goals and 4 assists in 15 official matches this season.

Coach Ancelotti added, "It is sad for players like Joao Pedro who were excluded from this final squad, but they will have other opportunities in the future." Ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, Brazil aims for its sixth World Cup title and first since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, 24 years later. In this World Cup, Brazil is placed in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.

- Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)

- Defenders: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Danilo Luis, Alex Sandro (both Flamengo), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Wesley (AS Roma), Douglas Santos (Jennie), Roger Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo)

- Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Danilo Santos (Botafogo)

- Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Endrick (Lyon), Luis Henrique (Jennie), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Hayao (Bournemouth)

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*This content was translated by AI.