Brazil Squad Picks Highlight Raphinha Call-Up as Neymar’s World Cup Chances Remain Uncertain
Carlo Ancelotti has named his brazil squad for friendlies against France and Croatia later this month, with Barcelona winger Raphinha included in the list. The brazil squad announcement comes as Neymar acknowledged that whether he will be selected for the World Cup is not his decision, with injury and fitness questions lingering.
Brazil Squad: Raphinha Called Up After Strong Club Form
Ancelotti’s selection for the two matches, scheduled for 26 and 31 March, includes 29-year-old Raphinha, who has returned to form for his club. The winger finished the recent weekend with a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Sevilla and has compiled 17 goals and five assists from 29 appearances in all competitions this season.
Raphinha missed Brazil’s previous four matches in October and November 2025 because of hamstring problems, but his recent productivity earned him a recall for the friendlies. The call-up positions him to be a central figure in Ancelotti’s plans for the World Cup preparation period and gives him a chance to strengthen his case for the final tournament roster.
Neymar Says Selection ‘Not Up To Me’ As Fitness Questions Persist
Neymar, who played a subdued role in a 1-1 home draw for Santos against Corinthians, said after the match that he wants to return to the national team and play at the World Cup but that the decision was not his. The 34-year-old is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals and called out his desire to be with the national side regardless of selection.
His recent appearances have been limited. Neymar suffered an ACL injury in October 2023 followed by another knee surgery in December, and he has played fewer than 10 matches for Santos this year. He showed glimpses of form earlier this year when he scored twice in a 2-1 win over Vasco da Gama, breaking into Santos’ top 10 club scorers in February, but his match against Corinthians featured no shots on goal and a missed header that narrowly failed to convert.
Club and national staff attention has been evident: two members of Brazil’s soccer confederation attended Santos’ match. Ancelotti has said he will take only players who are 100% fit to the tournament that will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, while also suggesting that some players may require no testing to prove readiness. Neymar missed a club match against Mirassol, an absence that local media suggested could harm his chances of reaching a fourth consecutive World Cup.
With the World Cup scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, the upcoming friendlies serve as the last tune-up fixtures before Ancelotti finalizes his squad in May. Raphinha’s recall and Neymar’s candid comments about selection underline the selection dilemmas facing the coach as he balances current form and medical fitness ahead of the tournament.
