Brazil’s preliminary squad for the World Cup, drawn up by head coach Carlo Ancelotti, includes Neymar (Santos) and Pedro (Flamengo). Forward Estêvão, however, is absent from the list due to an injury that will prevent him from recovering in time for the tournament.
The 55-player roster was finalized on Monday and submitted to FIFA by the deadline. Inclusion in this preliminary list does not guarantee a spot in the final squad. On May 18, Ancelotti will select only 26 players who will actually compete in the World Cup.
Players on the preliminary list still have a realistic chance of making the cut, while those excluded have already lost the opportunity to participate.
Neymar’s inclusion was anticipated within the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), as he had been part of Ancelotti’s broader squads. Nevertheless, he has not been called up for any friendlies so far. As a result, his final selection on May 18 remains uncertain. Neymar has played a few consecutive matches but has delivered inconsistent performances, alternating between poor and decent displays.
Additionally, off-field issues have harmed his standing with the CBF, including a confrontation with Robinho Jr. and his absence from a game in Mirassol, which Ancelotti had traveled to watch. However, being on the preliminary list keeps his World Cup hopes alive.
Pedro, meanwhile, has impressed with Flamengo and caught Ancelotti’s attention. The coach watched one of Pedro’s matches in person at the Maracanã against Vasco da Gama. Yet, he faces competition from Igor Thiago and Endrick, who have both been called up and performed well in friendlies against France and Croatia. Pedro is currently behind in the pecking order but could still convince Ancelotti in the final stretch.
In Estêvão’s case, a thigh injury suffered while playing for Chelsea ruled him out of the World Cup. His absence from the list, first reported by “GE” and confirmed by this blog, is a significant blow for Ancelotti, as the forward had been a starter and a central figure in his tactical setup.
This opens up a spot in attack. One potential candidate is Rayan, who plays in the same position. For at least another week, Neymar and Pedro also maintain hope of securing a place on the team.
