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Neymar and Raphinha have shared an emotional moment of celebration after the announcement of Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The legendary striker, whose inclusion had been the subject of intense speculation, was seen crying as he linked up with his close friend and Barcelona star to process the news.
An emotional call between stars
The bond between Brazil’s biggest stars was on display this week after Carlo Ancelotti officially confirmed his team for the upcoming tournament.
Barcelona striker Raphinha was one of the first to approach Neymar, starting a video call that captured the veteran attacker’s raw emotion.
After months of debate over his fitness and role within the national set-up, confirmation of his place in the team clearly meant a lot to the former Paris Saint-Germain player.
In a clip shared on social media, Neymar Jr cried while speaking to Raphinha, emphasizing the unity within the Seleção camp.
The veteran is expected to lead a talented front line as Brazil look to end their long wait for a sixth world title on the courts of North America.
Neymar’s bold promise for 2026
Despite the tears, it didn’t take long for Neymar’s trademark confidence to shine through during the conversation.
He took advantage of the moment to send a defiant message to the rest of the world, making it clear that he believes this is Brazil’s year.
“Thank you Raphinha for everything. From the bottom of my heart you know how much love I have for you. Everything is going to be fine, we are going to WIN this damn thing,” the forward declared during the emotional exchange.
The interaction highlights the leadership role Neymar continues to play, even as younger stars like Raphinha take on more prominent roles at club level with Barcelona.
The video, which originated on the Neymar Jr channel on YouTube, quickly went viral among fans who are eager to see if the Santos star can finally secure the one trophy that has eluded him in his illustrious career.
Surprise omissions and team depth
While the focus remained on Neymar’s return, the squad announcement was not without controversy.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the exclusion of Joao Pedro from Chelsea.
The striker has enjoyed a prolific campaign in the Premier League and was heavily linked with a possible move to Barcelona, but Ancelotti opted for other profiles in his final selection for the summer tournament.
With Neymar and Raphinha confirmed as the duo to watch, the pressure will be immense on the five-time champions to perform from the opening whistle in June.
The road ahead for the Seleção
Brazil’s route through the group stage looks manageable on paper, but it will have to do its best to avoid early scares.
They are scheduled to face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in the initial phase of the competition.
The team will meet at Granja Comary on May 27 before playing a farewell friendly against Panama at the Maracaná on May 31.
This will be the last chance for fans to see the team at home before leaving for the United States on June 1.
Brazil will face Egypt in a final warm-up match in Cleveland on June 6, before their first match of the tournament against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13.
FIFA World Cup 2026: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) and each match will be streamed live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, as will the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
