The world is holding its breath as rosters for the 2026 World Cup will be released in the next few weeks.
Among the many question marks fans are anticipating answers to is if Neymar will play for Brazil. The 34-year-old pop culture and soccer icon has been battling injuries and had a slow start in his return to Santos.
Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil's well-respected Italian manager, spoke with Reuters in an interview published Tuesday, May 12, about his process creating the roster for the Seleção.
"When you have to choose, you have to consider many things," Ancelotti said. "Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown. But he has had problems and is working hard to recover. He has improved a lot recently and is playing regularly. It is, obviously, not such an easy decision for me. We have to weigh up the pros and cons carefully."
With World Cup qualifying now complete, national teams around the globe are turning their attention toward soccer’s biggest tournament.
These are 12 incredible players to watch as they represent their countries on the World Cup stage.
Above, Sweden’s Alexander Isak plays for his national team. The forward is set to be one of the key figures for Sweden at the World Cup as he continues his role leading the attack for club and country.
Sweden’s forward Viktor Gyokeres, right.
Arda Guler of Turkey, right.
Hakan Calhanoglu of Turkey
Turkey’s forward Kenan Yildiz
Patrik Schick of Czechia, top.
Czechia’s midfielder Tomas Soucek.
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s forward Edin Dzeko, left.
Ermedin Demirovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Iraq’s forward Ayman Hussein, left.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
With World Cup qualifying now complete, national teams around the globe are turning their attention toward soccer’s biggest tournament.
These are 12 incredible players to watch as they represent their countries on the World Cup stage.
Above, Sweden’s Alexander Isak plays for his national team. The forward is set to be one of the key figures for Sweden at the World Cup as he continues his role leading the attack for club and country.
1 / 10
12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
With World Cup qualifying now complete, national teams around the globe are turning their attention toward soccer’s biggest tournament.
These are 12 incredible players to watch as they represent their countries on the World Cup stage.
Above, Sweden’s Alexander Isak plays for his national team. The forward is set to be one of the key figures for Sweden at the World Cup as he continues his role leading the attack for club and country.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Sweden’s forward Viktor Gyokeres, right.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Arda Guler of Turkey, right.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Hakan Calhanoglu of Turkey
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Turkey’s forward Kenan Yildiz
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Patrik Schick of Czechia, top.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Czechia’s midfielder Tomas Soucek.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s forward Edin Dzeko, left.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Ermedin Demirovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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12 incredible soccer stars you need to follow in the World Cup
Iraq’s forward Ayman Hussein, left.
Neymar has appeared in three World Cups, in which he's scored eight goals and been injured twice. In 2014, he was stretchered off the pitch when he broke a vertebrae in his back in the quarterfinals against Colombia. In the 2022 tournament, he suffered an ankle injury in group play and returned to score a goal in the knockout round and quarterfinals, where Brazil was eliminated by penalties. After the loss, Neymar sat on the pitch holding his knees staring down at the ground. That World Cup was significant as the question lingered if it would not only be the last tournament for Neymar, but also for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Ancelotti, who took the helm of Brazil in May 2025, reflected on how Neymar is perceived both by his teammates and by the public. He noted that he's not worried about the chemistry of the side and knows he can't control the "external atmosphere and what the media says.
"I know full well that Neymar is much loved, not only by the public but also by the players," Ancelotti said. "This is also a factor, because we have to consider the atmosphere that will surround Neymar's call-up. It's not as if I'm going to drop a bombshell in the dressing room. He's very well-liked, he's very much loved."
Neymar is among the question marks for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup roster.
Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, two more than Pelé. Another Brazil legend, Thiago Silva, is also reportedly in the mix for the World Cup roster despite questions surrounding his age, 41. The two stars are competing against Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Bremer, Léo Pereira, Igor Thiago, and teenagers Endrick and Rayan to be called up for the 2026 tournament.
Ancelotti holds the record for most Champions League trophies with five. He said he is receptive to the insight that other people are offering him in making his first World Cup roster for Brazil, but is confident in his own soccer senses to bring the country its sixth title.
"I'm grateful to everyone who has given me advice; I thank you all," he said. "But ultimately, the right person to make this decision, the one best placed to do so, is me."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carlo Ancelotti shares thoughts on if Neymar will play in World Cup
