Neymar’s World Cup fate is finally settled and it ends with a headline. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has included the star forward in his final World Cup squad, putting an end to weeks of speculation and restoring one of football’s most symbolic shirts to its most familiar modern owner. With this return, Neymar now stands on the brink of matching a historic milestone: becoming only the second player after Pelé to wear Brazil’s No. 10 jersey in four World Cups.
For the past year, Neymar had been absent from the national team, leaving Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior to carry the weight of the No. 10 shirt. Even in Brazil’s March friendlies against France and Croatia, Vinícius wore the number with confidence. But Neymar’s comeback shifts the balance once again, and all signs point to the legendary jersey returning to its long-time bearer.
Neymar first stepped onto the World Cup stage wearing the No. 10 in 2014, before repeating the honor in 2018 and 2022. Across those three tournaments, he has delivered 8 goals and 3 assists in 13 matches numbers that underline his enduring influence on Brazil’s attack. Now, with another World Cup ahead, the expectation is clear: Neymar has the chance not only to lead Brazil once more, but to uphold the legacy Pelé built and generations have revered.
His return brings renewed hope, renewed pressure, and renewed anticipation exactly the kind of storyline that electrifies a World Cup year.
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