Neymar Included in Brazil's 26-Man World Cup Squad

rio. Chief coach Carlo Ancelotti has included Brazil's forward Neymar in the 26-member squad announced for this year's World Cup. 

Currently playing for Brazilian club Santos, the 34-year-old Neymar is the country's highest goal scorer with 79 goals in 128 matches. 

He had been suffering from various problems due to injury and had not played for the Brazilian national team since 2023. With his selection in this squad, he is certain to get the opportunity to play in the World Cup for the fourth time. He has previously played in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups. 

Coach Ancelotti said at a ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro while announcing the team, fans cheered as soon as Neymar's name was called. Ancelotti, 66, who was appointed as Brazil's chief coach last year, said, 'We spent the whole year analyzing Neymar. We felt that he has been consistent in the recent period and is in good physical condition.' 

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who missed the last 10 games due to injury for Liverpool, has also been selected in the squad. Similarly, Manchester United's Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, Newcastle's midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, Arsenal's defender Gabriel, Brentford's striker Igor Thiago, and Bournemouth's forward Ryan have also made it to the squad. 

However, forward Joao Pedro, who has been Chelsea's top scorer this Premier League season with 15 goals and five assists, could not make it to the squad. Other players who made it to the squad include La Liga star Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Barcelona's Raphinha. Similarly, 19-year-old striker Endrick, who is on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid, has also made it to the squad. 

Five-time World Cup winner Brazil is in Group 'C'. They will face Morocco on June 13, Haiti on June 20, and Scotland four days later in their final group match. The expanded 48-team World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, begins on June 11. 

Brazil's full squad for the World Cup is as follows:

• Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio).
• Defender: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint Petersburg).
• Midfielder: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo).
• Forward: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Ryan (Bournemouth).