Neymar Left Out as Ancelotti Names First Brazil Squad

Carlo Ancelotti omitted Neymar from his first Brazil squad for the June World Cup qualifiers, citing fitness concerns. Casemiro, Richarlison, and Antony return after long absences. Vinícius Jr, despite modest Brazil stats, is backed by Ancelotti. Brazil sit fourth in qualifying after five defeats in 14 matches, with games against Ecuador and Paraguay ahead.

When the first Brazil squad under Carlo Ancelotti was announced, the most notable omission was Neymar. Despite returning to action recently for Santos after recovering from a serious knee injury, the forward was left out for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. Ancelotti cited Neymar’s recent injury as the reason, while acknowledging his importance to the team.

Veterans Casemiro and Richarlison were recalled after missing out since October 2023. Casemiro, who has 75 international caps, was praised for his leadership, work ethic, and past connection with Ancelotti at Real Madrid. Richarlison, along with Antony—who impressed on loan at Real Betis—returned to add attacking depth. Among the forwards selected are Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, and Gabriel Martinelli. Vinícius, despite scoring just six goals in 39 games for Brazil, was backed by Ancelotti to find his best form in the national setup.

Raphinha had a standout season with Barcelona, scoring 34 goals and delivering 22 assists across 54 games. The squad includes key names like Alisson, Marquinhos, Bruno Guimarães, and Andreas Pereira. Brazil currently sit fourth in South American World Cup qualifying with five losses in 14 games, making this an important stage in Ancelotti’s early tenure as they seek to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament.