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Neymar officially earned his spot on Brazil’s World Cup roster Monday after weeks of growing doubts about whether he would make the squad, per ESPN.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti included the 34-year-old striker in his 26-man group despite concerns surrounding his fitness following the torn ACL he suffered in October 2023.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, will now appear in his fourth World Cup. Fans erupted during the announcement once his name appeared on the roster.
“He has improved his fitness,” Ancelotti said during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. “He will be an important player in this World Cup.”
The coach also pointed toward Neymar’s leadership and experience as major reasons behind the decision.
“He can still improve his fitness until the first match of the World Cup,” Ancelotti added. “He has experience in this kind of competition, the love of our group; he can create a better environment in this group.”
Neymar Sends Hint Before Announcement
Shortly before Brazil revealed the roster, Neymar appeared to tease the decision himself by updating his Instagram bio. The Santos star added Brazil back into his profile after previously listing only his club team.
Brazil’s squad also features Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, while injuries will keep Rodrygo and Estêvão out of the tournament.
Brazil opens Group C play against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13 before facing Haiti and Scotland.
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