Neymar Surprisingly Out of Ancelotti Full Squad - World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Ancelotti's Brazil Squad

As Carlos Ancelotti has taken charge of the Brazil National Football Team, this will be his first test as the Coach. Carlos announced the Brazil National Squad for the upcoming FIFA Qualifiers against Chile on September 4th, at Maracanã, and Bolivia on September 9th at the city of El Alto. Carlos announced the Brazil National Team, which is quite surprising for everyone. His squad decisions have been criticized on Social Media, but remember, Brazil has already been qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Brazil is the only team in FIFA history that have qualified for every FIFA World Cup. Carlos Ancelotti is trending on social media after his press conference. Fans and social media users are criticizing him for not adding Rodrygo and Vinícius Junior to his squad as he is favoring Real Madrid for their upcoming matches.

Let's look at Carlos Ancelotti's 25-member squad for FIFA 2026 Qualifiers fixtures.

Goal Keepers

Defenders

Mid-Fielders

Attackers

Neymar and Vini rejected

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known as Neymar Jr., who started his career as Brazilian Wonder Kid and indeed ha was. He also the top Goal-Scorer for Brazil National Team of all time. He carried the Brazilian Legacy and proved himself in every league he played, but injuries, the curse for footballers, ruined his career. Neymar played his last national team match in October 2023, where he had his career-changing injury during a World Cup qualifying match between Brazil and Uruguay. A couple of months back then he signed for a Saudi Pro League club for €90m. After his long injury and having issues with coach Jorge Jesus, he left the club and back to the Brazilian League Club Santos FC, where he started his career.

Carlos Ancelotti said in his press conference that "Neymar had a small injury last week". The nature of the injury, recovery time were not mentioned in the press conference. Carlos also added, "Neymar, we don't need to test him. Everyone knows him. Like the others, he must arrive in good physical condition to help the national team give its best at the World Cup"
The 33-year-old Brazilian Star still has to wait to make his comeback to the National Team. Meanwhile, Lucas Paqueta is returning after being cleared of betting charges by an independent commission of the Premier League last month. He also has not played for the National Team since November 2024.

Carlos Ancelotti is trending on social media after his press conference. Fans and social media users are criticizing him for not adding Rodrygo and Vinícius Junior to his squad as he is favoring Real Madrid for their upcoming matches. But the coach has clearly mentioned in his press conference that Vini Jr. has been rested because he has a lot of match fitness in the upcoming months and has been rested to make new combinations as the team has already qualified for the World Cup.
The 24-year-old Real Madrid wonder-kid Rodrygo, Antony, and Philippe Coutinho are not in Carlos' plan so far.

Neymar Jr. - A Born Star

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (born 5 February 1992), known simply as Neymar or Neymar Jr, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Santos—where he serves as captain—and the Brazil national team. Renowned for his flair, creativity, dribbling, and finishing, Neymar is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He is one of only five players to score 100+ goals for three different clubs, holds records as Brazil’s top UEFA Champions League scorer and assist provider, and ranks second among South American men’s all-time international goalscorers with 79 goals. Across his career, he has surpassed 400 goals and contributed over 250 assists for club and country.
Neymar made his professional debut for Santos in 2009, winning the 2011 Copa Libertadores before joining Barcelona in 2013. As part of the legendary “MSN” trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, he won the 2014–15 treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League), finishing as top scorer in both domestic and European cups. In 2017, Neymar transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a record €222 million, becoming the most expensive player in history. Despite injury setbacks, he guided PSG to multiple Ligue 1 titles and their first Champions League final in 2020. In 2023, he joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia before returning to Santos in 2025.
Internationally, Neymar debuted for Brazil at 18, becoming the nation’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 caps. He won the 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2016 Olympic gold medal, and the 2019 Copa América, where he was named Best Player. He has been included twice in both the FIFA FIFPro World 11 and UEFA Team of the Year, and has received accolades such as the FIFA Puskás Award, South American Footballer of the Year (twice), and Ligue 1 Player of the Year.
Though Neymar has never won the Ballon d’Or, finishing third in 2015 and 2017, his impact, creativity, and global influence have cemented his status among football’s all-time greats.

Neymar Jr — Club Career (Season by Season)

Club	Years	Apps (official)	Goals (official)	Major Trophies Won
Santos (Brazil)	2009–2013	134	70	1× Copa Libertadores (2011), 1× Copa do Brasil (2010), 3× Campeonato Paulista (2010–12), 1× Recopa Sudamericana (2012)
FC Barcelona (Spain)	2013–2017	186	105	2× LaLiga, 3× Copa del Rey, 1× UEFA Champions League (2014–15), 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2015), 1× UEFA Super Cup (2015), 1× Supercopa de España
Paris Saint-Germain (France)	2017–2023	173	118	5× Ligue 1, 3× Coupe de France, 2× Coupe de la Ligue, 3× Trophée des Champions
Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)	2023–present	10+	3+	Saudi Pro League (2024–25, ongoing), Saudi Super Cup (2024)
Total (Club Career)	2009–2025	500+	295+	20+ major trophies

Neymar Jr — International Career (Brazil)

Years	Caps	Goals	Major Tournaments / Honours
2010–present	128+	79	1× Olympic Gold (2016), 1× FIFA Confederations Cup (2013), Copa América Winner (2019, injured), Copa América Runner-up (2021), FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022)

Neymar Jr — Major Individual Awards

Award	Year(s)
South American Footballer of the Year	2011, 2012
FIFA Puskás Award (Best Goal)	2011
FIFA FIFPro World XI	2015, 2017
UEFA Champions League Top Assist Provider	2015–16
Ligue 1 Player of the Year	2017–18
Copa Libertadores MVP	2011
Samba Gold (Best Brazilian in Europe)	2014, 2015, 2017
Olympic Tournament MVP	2016
IFFHS Men’s World Team	2017, 2020
Included in Ballon d’Or Top 3	2015 (3rd place)