São Paulo – The question of whether Neymar will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to dominate discussion in Brazil, with the star forward attempting to regain his place in the national team following a significant knee injury. Despite not being called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia, Neymar is receiving strong support from within the squad, most recently from captain Marquinhos.
Neymar, 34, has openly expressed his desire to feature in the North American World Cup, viewing it as a potential final, defining moment in his illustrious career. However, his path back to the Seleção has been complicated by a lengthy recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus sustained during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay on October 10, 2023. The injury required surgery, and his return to competitive fitness has been closely monitored.
Ancelotti, appointed Brazil’s manager in May 2025, has yet to include Neymar in his squads, opting to leave the forward out of recent preparatory matches. This decision has understandably disappointed Neymar, but he continues to operate towards regaining his form and earning a spot on the plane to the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“I really believe it’s going to happen,” Marquinhos told Brazilian media outlet UOL Esporte on Tuesday. “He has a very strong desire for it to happen, to come back strong. We, as teammates, Brazilians and supporters, too want him to participate in this World Cup.” Marquinhos and Neymar shared a dressing room at Paris Saint-Germain for six seasons, from 2017 to 2023, forging a close relationship both on and off the pitch.
A Long-Standing Partnership
Marquinhos’s support underscores the deep connection he shares with Neymar. He elaborated on Neymar’s unique talent, describing the difficulty of defending against him. “For us defenders, it’s horrible (to play against him),” Marquinhos said. “You close him down on the right, he goes to the left, you close him down on the left, he goes to the right. When you think it’s impossible for him to gain out of it, he invents something, throws himself a little and manages to escape. Every day he did something he had never done before, he impressed us.”
The PSG captain highlighted the enduring nature of their professional relationship. “He’s my partner, we’ve spent many years together,” Marquinhos stated. “Our careers have always been linked, since the Olympics, our debuts in the national team, our matches as opponents, and then together.”
Marquinhos even recalled a touching moment from PSG’s successful Champions League campaign, revealing that Neymar personally called him before the final to offer encouragement. “When we reached the Champions League final, he called me to wish me luck, told me the moment had come and that we had to win this match,” Marquinhos shared, referencing PSG’s 5-0 victory over Inter Milan on May 31, 2025.
Neymar’s recent return to Santos, his boyhood club, in January 2026, has been interpreted by many as a commitment to regaining match fitness and proving his worth to Ancelotti. He underwent surgery in December 2025 to address a medial meniscus lesion, a move specifically aimed at maximizing his chances of featuring in the World Cup. The decision to return to Santos, where he began his professional career, signals his dedication to playing in what could be his final World Cup.
The Brazilian national team faces France on March 26th and Croatia on April 1st as part of their preparations for the tournament. These matches will be crucial opportunities for players to stake their claim for a place in Ancelotti’s final squad. While Neymar hasn’t been included for these upcoming friendlies, the continued support from key figures like Marquinhos suggests he remains a consideration.
The situation highlights the delicate balance between a player’s desire to represent his country and a coach’s responsibility to select a team in the best possible condition. For Brazilian fans, the prospect of seeing Neymar grace the World Cup stage one last time is a compelling one, and Marquinhos’s public backing adds further weight to the calls for his inclusion.
Neymar’s journey back to full fitness and international contention is far from over. His performance for Santos in the coming months will be under intense scrutiny, and Ancelotti will undoubtedly be monitoring his progress closely. The coming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether the iconic forward will have the chance to fulfill his dream of competing in the 2026 World Cup.
The next key date for Neymar and Brazil is the announcement of the final World Cup squad, expected in June 2026. Fans will be eagerly awaiting that announcement, hoping to see the name of one of football’s most gifted players included in the list. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of Neymar’s progress and the latest updates on the Brazilian national team.
