Brazil’s World Cup hopes are again tied to Neymar, a familiar but complicated storyline that has long divided fans and defined tournament debates. Cafu, who captained Brazil to their last World Cup title, says Neymar can still be decisive if he is physically and technically ready. But Brazil’s long wait to see that version of him consistently has made his role one of the biggest talking points ahead of the tournament.
Carlo Ancelotti has recalled Neymar to the national squad after he had not played for Brazil since 2023, but the forward will miss the World Cup opener against Morocco and may only return to training next week. The decision has revived a national obsession. For many in Brazil, Neymar remains the country’s most gifted attacker and all-time leading scorer in the men’s game, yet his international career has repeatedly been interrupted by injuries and setbacks at the worst possible moments.
His history with the Seleção is full of near-misses. As a teenager, he was left out of the 2010 squad despite pressure from supporters. In 2014, a back injury ended his World Cup campaign on home soil before Brazil suffered the devastating 7-1 loss to Germany. Injury again affected his build-up to 2018, and in 2022 he finally produced a memorable moment in Qatar with an extra-time goal against Croatia, only for Brazil to be eliminated on penalties after conceding late.
Now 34, Neymar has returned to Santos and played eight league matches this year, all at home. That has raised doubts about whether he is ready for the demands of a World Cup. Even so, Ancelotti has chosen to include him, signalling faith in raw talent and hoping the forward can contribute in bursts rather than carry the entire attack. The coach appears to believe that Neymar’s presence could lift the squad, while also shifting pressure back onto the player to prove himself.
The selection has echoes of earlier Brazilian World Cup dramas involving Romario. In 1994, pressure from supporters eventually forced Carlos Alberto Parreira to bring Romario back into the team, and the striker responded by scoring both goals in a crucial qualifier against Uruguay before starring at the World Cup. In 1998, Romario’s absence due to injury proved costly as Brazil lost the final to France. In 2002, Luiz Felipe Scolari ignored calls to include him and still won the tournament, showing there is no single formula for success.
For Cafu, though, Brazil remains a genuine contender. He believes Ancelotti can bring new energy and says the squad has the quality to win the World Cup. Still, Neymar’s fitness, form and durability remain the central question. Brazil’s latest World Cup chapter may again depend on whether its most famous attacker can finally deliver the ending so many have spent years expecting.
