Neymar's relationship with the World Cup has been a saga of unfulfilled promise, physical torment, and psychological scars. At 34, the Brazilian superstar has been handed an unexpected lifeline by coach Carlo Ancelotti for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada—a final shot at the trophy that has eluded him through three painful campaigns.
The journey began in 2010, when then-manager Dunga resisted mounting pressure to include the 18-year-old Santos prodigy. Neymar watched from home as a Brazil side led by Kaká and Robinho fell to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. It was a missed opportunity that set the tone for a career dogged by World Cup misfortune.
Four years later, on home soil, Neymar was the face of a nation desperate to exorcise the ghosts of 1950. He shone brightly in the group stage, scoring twice against both Croatia and Cameroon. But in the quarter-final against Colombia, disaster struck. A knee from Juan Camilo Zúñiga in the 88th minute left Neymar with a fractured vertebra. "When I hurt my back, Marcelo tried to help me up, but I couldn't. I tried to move my legs, but I couldn't. I had no strength to get up," he later recalled. In the dressing room, the medical staff stretched his bent leg, causing an electric shock-like sensation. "I couldn't move my feet. And I started crying desperately." Doctors revealed that a mere two centimeters had spared him from permanent wheelchair confinement. Without him, Brazil suffered the infamous 1-7 semifinal collapse against Germany—the Mineirazo—a national trauma compounded by his absence.
Russia 2018 offered a fresh start, but Neymar arrived under the weight of a world-record €222 million transfer to PSG. Opponents targeted him ruthlessly: he suffered nine fouls in the opener against Switzerland alone. Brazil progressed to the quarter-finals, where a disjointed performance against Belgium ended in a 1-2 defeat. Neymar's tournament was defined more by rolling and perceived theatrics than decisive moments, leaving him with a second bitter aftertaste.
Then came Qatar 2022, a campaign that began with renewed hope alongside Vinícius Júnior and a talented supporting cast. But in the first game against Serbia, Neymar's ankle twisted under a challenge, forcing him off with a ligament sprain. He missed the rest of the group phase, lamenting, "Nothing in my life was given to me, and this happens to me again at a World Cup." He returned for the knockout rounds, scoring a brilliant goal in extra time against Croatia in the quarter-finals. Yet with minutes remaining, a Croatian counter-attack equalized, and the ensuing penalty shootout saw Brazil eliminated—Neymar never even took his spot-kick, having been slated for the fifth attempt. The image of him sobbing on the pitch, consoled by teammates, became emblematic of his World Cup curse.
Now, Ancelotti has stunned the football world by including Neymar in his 2026 plans. The Italian, known for man-management, has been blunt: "I don’t want stars; Neymar has the same role as everyone else—to contribute. He can help create a good atmosphere." Yet he also stressed meritocracy: "Neymar will play if he deserves to play." For Neymar, this represents a last-chance saloon. At an age where most attackers fade, he must prove his fitness and focus after years of injury setbacks.
The implications ripple beyond one player. A successful Neymar could redefine a Brazil side that has not won the World Cup since 2002, easing the suffocating pressure on a generation featuring Vinícius, Rodrygo, and others. For Ancelotti, it is a strategic gamble—harnessing Neymar's genius while shielding the team from his unpredictable physical state and the circus that often surrounds him. The 2026 tournament offers the ultimate stage for closure, whether glorious or tragic.
Upon learning of his selection, Neymar's reaction spoke volumes: "I'm already there, I'm there," he said, tears streaming. Those words encapsulate a journey from teenage sensation to scarred veteran, a player who has endured more than most in the pursuit of football's greatest prize. As he prepares for what will almost certainly be his final World Cup, the question lingers: Will the fourth time break the pattern, or will the curse write its cruelest chapter yet?
Based on reporting from Marca.