An emotional call between stars
The bond between Brazil's biggest stars was on full display this week after Carlo Ancelotti officially confirmed his squad for the upcoming tournament. Barcelona forward Raphinha was among the first to reach out to Neymar, initiating a video call that captured the raw emotion of the veteran attacker.
After months of debate regarding his fitness and role within the national setup, the confirmation of his place in the squad clearly meant the world to the former Paris Saint-Germain man.
In a clip shared on social media,
🥺🇧🇷 Raphinha videocalled Neymar Jr who was in tears after being called up for the World Cup.
“We're together, Rapha… we are gonna ð–ðˆð this!†ðŸ†
🎥 Neymar Jr channel on YouTube pic.twitter.com/zzoa0wkA1A— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 19, 2026
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 used 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 the affection I have for you. It's all gonna be fine, we are gonna 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 from the
Surprise omissions and squad depth
While the focus remained on Neymar’s return, the squad announcement was not without its controversies. Perhaps the
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 Selecao
Brazil's
The squad is set to assemble at Granja Comary on May 27 before playing a farewell friendly against Panama at the Maracana on May 31. This will be the fans’ last chance to see the team on home soil before they depart for the United States on June 1.
Brazil will face Egypt in a final warm-up match in Cleveland on June 6, before their tournament opener against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13.
