The spotlight is on Neymar – whether he played or not.
Which of the biggest names in the World Cup is it?
Striker. Age 34 years. In the last three seasons, 18 goals, 11 assists and 3,758 game minutes.
Well, Neymar of course.
There is no way to justify the selection of a superstar to the World Cup team in Brazil based on performance or numbers. For example, one who considers Neymar as a role model Lamine Yamal18, got clearly better performances in his statistics during the 2025–26 season alone.
Neymar is the head coach Carlo Ancelotti a wild card, betting on which is, to put it mildly, a risk.
The risk materialized already the day after the announcement of the team, when it was announced that the player was suffering from a calf injury.
The questions about Neymar are not only related to concerns about his playing condition. Ancelotti ordered himself a constant topic of conversation for the next few weeks, as continuous speculations about Neymar’s responsibility and adaptation to the role of a possible substitute can be expected.
Hugely popular
Most of the Brazilian people are behind Neymar, Lucas Rangel estimates. EPA / AOP
– Many say in Brazil that Neymar should not be involved, but how could he not be? If you have Neymar, he is the one to pick, SJK’s Brazilian striker Lucas Rangel declares without flinching.
He estimates that the world star’s opponents are still clearly in the minority.
– Let’s say that maybe 15-25 percent of the people don’t support him. They don’t like his behavior and personality, Rangel says, adding that he is disappointed that there are so many doubters.
During his career, Neymar has fully enjoyed his stardom and earned a reputation as an enthusiastic party-goer. During the years at Barcelona, it was a common joke every spring that the brass often got injured or suspended just before his sister’s birthday, which was celebrated in spectacular fashion in Brazil.
The carefree lifestyle and, among other things, having fun with online poker have raised doubts as to whether the man has always fully invested in football.
Joga Bonito’s model student
Neymar’s technique is superior. PDO
The experienced Italian pilot Ancelotti could see in the selection of Neymar an element of outdoor sports – an opportunity to unite the people behind the Seleção. If the percentages given by Rangel are close to the truth, the inclusion of the former teenage star of Santos will unite the futs-crazy samba country more than it will separate them.
Joga Bonito – the concept of the beautiful game – has defined Brazilian football throughout the national team’s successful history.
Neymar represents this way of playing and living life in its purest form. The crafty striker likes to entertain and even humiliate his opponents on the pitch.
In the same way as Ronaldinhowho provided the face for Brazil’s most recent World Cup team in 2002.
However, the representatives of the cultural symbol are disappearing.
– Nowadays, it is very difficult to find a player like Neymar in Brazil. There is Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Endrickbut they are nowhere near Neymar, says Rangel.
Cause fear
Lucas Rangel is also known from KTP’s yellow jersey. Juha Tamminen / AOP
The talented player, who was admired at Barcelona and PSG, lacks big wins in the national team shirt, but he is still the country’s all-time top scorer past the big Pelé, Ronaldo’s and Romário.
The SJK striker emphasizes that, when he is fit, Neymar is the most unpredictable player in the brass pack.
– Deflections, shots, passes… He goes from one to ten in seconds. He gives off great deflections or a fantastic goal. Opponents are afraid to match him up in one-on-one situations.
Rangel also firmly believes in Neymar’s ability to stand out in decisive moments.
– If you have Neymar on the field 85-90. minute, you can expect anything.
Balance in search
Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil are dangerous. EPA / AOP
Ancelotti stated after the recently played training match in Panama that Neymar has to fight for playing time with Vinícius, who is projected to be the team’s leader, and who combines power and workload seamlessly Raph with.
The challenge level of the task seems cruel. Rangel starts to laugh already in the middle of the question, when it is suggested to him that Neymar may have great difficulties in getting minutes.
The answer tells you well what kind of status the controversial star has in Brazil.
– You hear me, my friend. If Neymar is fit, no one can compete with him. He has no equal. Vinícius is a good player, but he will never be at Neymar’s level, Rangel taps.
With its five world championships, Brazil is the most in the history of the World Cup, but in this year’s tournament it is not one of the biggest favorites.
Behind the fiery attack is a modest defense, where only the captain can be sure of the opening position Marquinhos and Gabriel.
In the practice matches before the Games, Brazil played on the bottom floor of three and four.
– They have weak points, but hopefully Casemiro able to help them [puolustajia]. I like him a lot. He’s a tough guy, Rangel is a 34-year-old hulk, next to whom there is a Bruno Guimarães.
Brazil will open the games Finnish time on the night before Sunday, when they will face Morocco. In the group stage, it will also face Haiti and Scotland.