Neymar 'couldn't stop crying' after emotional Brazil call-up for FIFA World Cup 2026

The 34-year-old last played for A Selecao back in 2023.

Carlo Ancelotti recently announced Brazil’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The fan favourite Neymar Jr. has also been included in the 26-man roster after weeks of speculation surrounding his selection.

A Selecao are all set to battle it out against Panama and Egypt for international friendlies. The 34-year-old will be looking to put in a top performance. He last competed for Brazil in October 2023.

Since then, he has not been a part of the national team due to his fitness issues. Neymar has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil. He is also the record goal scorer for his country.

After Neymar was included to represent Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2026, he missed a game for his club Santos FC due to a calf issue. He will be eager to bounce back out of it as the mega competition is now around the corner.

The Carlo Ancelotti-led side are placed in Group C along with the likes of Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. It is not going to be the easiest journey for them from the start. But with a star-studded lineup, A Selecao are most likely to get through to the group stage of the tournament.

Also Read: Brazil’s coaching staff for FIFA World Cup 2026 revealed ft. Carlo Ancelotti

Why did Neymar ‘cry all night’ after his Brazil call-up?

The 34-year-old has now opened up about the moment he was included in the final list of players set to represent the Brazil national football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During a recent event in São Paulo, the star forward mentioned that it took him a while to realise that he had been selected in the final 26-man roster after getting through a difficult path. Neymar also stated that the emotions did not let him sleep for hours.

“I went to sleep at 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning, watching all the videos. I couldn’t stop crying all night. I was there with my wife and daughters, sleeping in the same bed. They were sleeping, and I was crying watching each video, because it wasn’t easy,” said Neymar.

The Santos FC star also stated that the recovery path was not easy at all. But in the end, he achieved his goal and was called up by Carlo Ancelotti to represent Brazil at the grandest stage of them all.

Neymar then went on to say, “It was difficult, it was hard, but in the end it was worth it. It was worth it to feel this affection, this emotion, this feeling of being Brazilian and representing each one of you in a World Cup.”

The 34-year-old is also very thankful to his millions of supporters who kept on cheering for him during the difficult period. He is now focused on physical fitness and technical training.

“I thank all of Brazil for their support, their encouragement, and their reactions, which were wonderful. It will be a very special day, one that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Neymar stated further.

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