Neymar has been chosen, who will pay the price?

Carlo Ancelotti attracted attention by including Neymar in the 2026 World Cup squad but excluding a number of stars such as Rodrygo, Joao Pedro, and Antony.

Joao Pedro will miss the chance to play in the 2026 World Cup.

Carlo Ancelotti officially announced the Brazilian national team squad for the 2026 World Cup, and the Italian strategist's decision quickly sparked much debate.

The biggest focus is on Neymar's return. At 34 years old, the Santos striker still has Ancelotti's faith in what is considered the last World Cup of his career.

Neymar's presence thrilled Brazilian fans, but it came with a number of notable absences. Several players were forced to miss out due to injury, including Eder Militao, Rodrygo, and Estevao Willian. These players did not recover in time to participate in the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

However, many other names were completely excluded for professional and tactical reasons. Thiago Silva is a particularly regrettable case. The 41-year-old center-back was once mentioned as an experienced option for the 2026 World Cup, but ultimately was not selected. This means that the opportunity for the FC Porto player to participate in his last major tournament with the Brazilian national team has officially ended.

Among the clubs most affected by Ancelotti's decision, Chelsea stands out the most. Besides Estevao, who is absent due to injury, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos are also not included in the final squad list.

Notably, Joao Pedro has just had an impressive season and has been linked with FC Barcelona. Meanwhile, Andrey Santos had previously been called up for friendly matches against France and Croatia.

Ancelotti admitted that dropping Joao Pedro was one of his most difficult decisions. "I feel sad for the players who were left out, like Joao Pedro," the Italian strategist shared.

In La Liga, Antony is also a notable case of a player not being called up to the national team. The Real Betis player had a fairly positive season but it was still not enough to convince Ancelotti.

Ultimately, the Italian coach still places his greatest faith in Neymar, both in terms of his professional skills and his psychological influence in the dressing room. The 2026 World Cup is therefore likely to be Neymar's "final dance" with the Brazilian national team.

Source: https://znews.vn/neymar-duoc-chon-ai-phai-tra-gia-post1652444.html