Brazilian football superstar Neymar (34, Santos) has seen his chances of playing in the World Cup revived after being named in the national team’s preliminary squad.

Once seemingly distant from the Seleção, Neymar’s inclusion in the preliminary list has sparked optimism that he could feature in his fourth World Cup campaign.

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On May 12 (KST), ESPN cited a Brazil national team source, reporting that “Neymar was included in the 55-man preliminary squad submitted by manager Carlo Ancelotti to FIFA.”

Until recently, the outlook was bleak. Neymar had been consistently omitted from the squad due to injuries and fitness concerns. Since Ancelotti took over, he had not been called up even once, leading to speculation that a World Cup appearance was virtually impossible.

However, his inclusion in this preliminary list changes the situation entirely. Brazil can only select the final 26-man squad from within the 55-player preliminary list. This means Neymar has at least survived the initial cut and remains in contention for the final roster.

Expectations are also rising in Brazil. Neymar is a symbolic figure in Brazilian football history, holding the record for most international goals with 79. His World Cup experience and on-field influence are considered unmatched among the current Brazilian squad.

Given that Ancelotti values experienced attacking options, many believe Neymar’s potential utilization is significant. If he fully recovers his fitness, he is regarded as one of the few players capable of changing the course of a match.