Neymar Jr. and 3 Brazil stars to know ahead of 2026 World Cup

The Brazil national team has one expectation: to win the 2026 World Cup. While the South American country may not have invented soccer, they believe they perfected it, which is why anything short of lifting the trophy at the end of this tournament will be a disappointment for Brazilians everywhere. So, which players will help Brazil try to win their sixth World Cup? Well, it starts with the country’s most famous player, and its biggest question mark, Neymar Jr.

Neymar Jr., Attacking Midfielder, Santos (Brazil) 

Neymar was once one of the world’s biggest football stars, right behind Cristiano Ronaldo and his former Barcelona and PSG teammate, Lionel Messi. However, age and injury have taken their toll. Now 34 and playing back in his home country, Neymar is not the player he once was.

The forward also suffered a calf injury just days before manager Carlo Ancelotti announced the Brazil national team World Cup squad. Neymar made the team, but is having an MRI on Monday to see how bad it actually is. There is a real chance that the superstar can’t go for the team’s opener vs. Morocco, and his status for the Haiti and Scotland games is unclear as well.

Neymar has just 43 appearances with Santos since returning in Jan. 2025, and only 17 goals in that time, which is low for the level of competition. The last time he scored double-digit goals in a season was in 2022-23 with PSG.

While no one wants to see injuries, this particular issue may be a blessing in disguise for Ancelotti and the Brazilians. It may mean that Neymar comes off the bench as a super sub instead of as a key starting 11 player, which is probably better for the team at this point.

Gabriel, Center Back, Arsenal (England) 

Arsenal’s hard man at the back is arguably the best center back in the world right now. Gabriel helped the Gunners win the Premier League this season and make it to the Champions League final. Defense has often been the Achilles’ heel for Brazil in World Cups, but with Gabriel organizing the group in front of goalkeeper Alisson, it could actually be a strength.

Group C does not feature any world-class strikers, and Brazil is expected to cruise through its group. If they do, the Knockout Rounds will be where Gabriel shines. Watching the Arsenal defender go head-to-head with the best strikers on the planet will be fascinating, and a Round of 16 matchup with Erling Haaland and Norway is a real possibility.

Vinicius Junior, Wing, Real Madrid (Spain) 

Whether Neymar is healthy or not, the real star of this Brazil national team at the World Cup will be Vinicius Jr. The Real Madrid winger will be the focal point of the Green and Yellow attack. Ancelotti coached Vini Jr. in Spain for four seasons, and they won two La Liga and two Champions League trophies together.

Ancelotti knows how to get the best out of Vini Jr., and if Brazil has any hopes of winning it all, he’ll have to get a Golden Ball-winning performance out of his superstar. Without a proven, in-form No. 9, Brazil needs to attack down the wings with Vini Jr., and that’s exactly what he’ll do.

The 25-year-old Real Madrid star has won basically everything there is to win from a team perspective professionally. And he’s in the conversation with Spain’s Lamine Yamal, France’s Kylian Mbappe, and Norway’s Erling Haaland as the best football player in the world right now.

A World Cup trophy could truly cement his spot atop that list.

Endrick, Striker, Lyon (France, on Loan from Real Madrid)

If there is a breakout star for Brazil in this World Cup, it could be 19-year-old striker Endrick. On loan from Real Madrid, Endrick posted eight goals and eight assists in just 21 appearances at Lyon in France this season.

Ancelotti is using a 4-2-2 formation with Brazil, meaning there isn’t a true tip-of-the-spear striker in his starting 11. If Endrick can come on and make some noise as a sub early in this tournament, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him earn more time and even sneak into the starting lineup come the Knockout Rounds.

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