Neymar stood in the centre circle at the Urbano-Caldeira stadium on Sunday, his young daughter cradled in his arms, tears streaming down his face as the Brazilian national anthem echoed before Santos' clash with Coritiba. The image captured a man on an emotional knife-edge, knowing that within 24 hours Carlo Ancelotti would announce the 26 players who will carry the Seleção's World Cup hopes to the United States. For the 34-year-old, it was the culmination of a months-long campaign to prove he still belongs on football's biggest stage, a journey marked by injury, criticism and very public outbursts of frustration.
Ancelotti has faced relentless scrutiny over whether to include Neymar, with the Italian acknowledging in a recent Reuters interview that his patience had been tested by the external noise. "I am grateful for all the advice I've been given," he said, adding that the environment would remain under control "with or without Neymar." Yet the coach has also consistently maintained that the player's physical condition would be the decisive factor, and he conceded Neymar had "improved a lot lately, working hard to recover." Having featured in 10 of Santos' last 13 matches, the forward's case is as strong as it has been all year, but the emotional toll of the saga has been increasingly evident.
Neymar himself did not hide the weight of the moment after Sunday's game, which ended in a 3-0 defeat. "I always said it was my dream to play this World Cup," he told reporters. "Physically, I feel very good. I did everything I could and it wasn't easy. I worked hard, in silence, and I suffered from people's criticism, but I'm where I wanted to be. I hope to be called up. If not, I'll be just another fan of this Seleção." Those words carried the resignation of a player who has fought to regain fitness after a series of setbacks and who knows that a final global tournament would cement his legacy alongside the 79 international goals that already make him Brazil's record scorer.
The makeup of the squad has been complicated by a spate of injuries to key attacking players. Rodrygo, of Real Madrid, and Estevão, now at Chelsea, have both been ruled out, robbing Ancelotti of two creative outlets he had counted on. Defender Éder Militão is also a confirmed absentee, opening a gap in a backline that remains a work in progress behind Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos and Arsenal's Gabriel, who face each other in the Champions League final on 30 May. These absences have reshuffled the selection puzzle and increased the spotlight on Neymar's potential inclusion.
One beneficiary of the reshuffle looks set to be Endrick, the 19-year-old who has impressed during a six-month loan spell at Lyon. His versatility and the forced departure of Estevão have cleared a path in the forward line for a player Ancelotti views as a valuable option. Meanwhile, the defensive vacancy may lead to a stunning recall for Thiago Silva. The 41-year-old has been in exemplary form for Porto and, crucially, knows Ancelotti well from their time together at PSG. Silva has not played for Brazil since 2022, but the combination of his performances and the lack of experienced alternatives has pushed his stock higher within the CBF.
The emotional volatility that has accompanied Neymar's comeback has not always worked in his favour. Recent weeks have seen him clash with Santos supporters and, in a particularly shocking incident, strike teammate Robinho Jr during a training session. On Sunday, even as his team collapsed against Coritiba, he erupted at the referee after being substituted, later citing discomfort in a calf. These episodes, amplified by Brazil's unforgiving media ecosystem, have added an element of risk to any decision to bring him into a tournament where mental composure is paramount.
Within the Seleção, however, Neymar retains powerful allies. Winger Raphinha, speaking on TV Globo last week, was unequivocal: "Neymar is the one who will make us win the sixth star." Such testimonials underline the belief among the players that, despite the rollercoaster of emotions, Neymar's genius remains a match-winner. With creative talents depleted, the need for a player capable of sudden, unpredictable brilliance is acute, and the entire nation seems to hold its breath for Ancelotti's verdict.
Ancelotti has made it clear that age will not be a barrier, as the potential inclusion of Thiago Silva demonstrates. His list, finalised on Monday, will reflect a balancing act between experience and regeneration, with the Italian aware that a World Cup campaign cannot be navigated on youthful promise alone. For Neymar, the hours of waiting represent the end of a saga that has consumed Brazilian football discourse for months. Whether he boards the plane to the United States or not, his tears on Sunday confirmed that the journey to this point has been as draining as any trophy pursuit.
If selected, Neymar will be entrusted with one last dance, a chance to join Pelé in the pantheon of immortals by leading Brazil to a World Cup on foreign soil. If overlooked, he will fade into a supporter's role, a painful denouement for a player who has always craved the spotlight. The announcement, expected late on Monday in France, will bring clarity to a situation that has blended genuine sporting drama with the theatre of public emotion, and its repercussions will ripple through the Seleção's campaign no matter the outcome.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.
