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Ancelotti admitted it himself; Joao Pedro probably deserved to be on the list. He isn’t. The Chelsea striker scored 20 goals and 9 assists across 49 appearances this season, finished third in the Premier League Golden Boot standings, and won Chelsea’s Player of the Season award by more than 60 per cent of the ballot. The player who took his spot hasn’t represented Brazil since October 2023. That decision has a name, a logic, and a very clear risk attached to it.
Pedro, 24, signed from Brighton for £60 million in the summer of 2025 and delivered one of the most productive debut campaigns in Chelsea’s Premier League era. His 20 goals and 9 assists across 49 appearances made him the first Blues player since Cole Palmer in 2023-24 to reach that landmark in a single season.
His 15 Premier League goals placed him third in the Golden Boot standings, with Chelsea fans voting him Player of the Season by more than 60 per cent. Internationally, eight caps and zero goals, including a blank as Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in a friendly on April 1, 2026. The contrast is stark. But a goalless international return for a 24-year-old still settling into the national setup is not the same as a player out of form, and Ancelotti’s own words at the squad announcement suggest he knows the difference.
At the squad unveiling on May 19 in Rio de Janeiro, Ancelotti was unusually candid:
“Obviously, we were sad for João Pedro, because for the season he had in Europe, he probably deserved to be on this list. Unfortunately, with all possible awareness, with all possible respect and with all possible competence, we chose other players.” — Carlo Ancelotti, May 19, 2026
On Neymar, his reasoning shifted from form to legacy:
“We chose Neymar not because we think he’ll be a good substitute. We chose Neymar because we believe he can help the team, whether it’s for one minute, five minutes, 90 minutes, or even taking a penalty,” — Carlo Ancelotti, May 19, 2026
Admitting an excluded player probably deserved his place, then justifying a less-fit alternative on atmosphere and experience, is sentiment over selection. It is a bet on aura over output in the biggest tournament in football.
Neymar’s last appearance for Brazil was on October 17, 2023, nearly two and a half years of international absence. His return to Santos was disrupted by further knee surgery in December 2024. In 2026, he has managed six goals and four assists across all competitions for Peixe, approximately 686 minutes of Série A football. He has not played for the national side at all during this period.
The forward group Ancelotti named, Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Martinelli, Neymar, Endrick, Matheus Cunha, Igor Thiago, Rayan, and Luiz Henrique, confirms that Neymar’s inclusion directly cost Pedro his spot. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 125 appearances. That legacy is real. But legacy doesn’t score in a Group C opener against Morocco at MetLife Stadium.
Brazil open against Morocco at MetLife Stadium on June 13, the same opponents they beat 3-0 at the 1998 World Cup. They face Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia before closing against Scotland on June 24 in Miami. Morocco, semi-finalists in 2022, are the genuine test. Igor Thiago of Brentford, the Premier League’s second-top scorer with 23 goals, looks set to lead the line. If Thiago struggles or picks up a knock early, Brazil have no 20-goal central striker to turn to. That vacancy was Pedro’s all season. for Brazil. In the end, the player who most publicly championed Neymar’s return lost his own World Cup place to make room for him.
If Brazil stalls for goals in Group C and Ancelotti’s apology rings louder than his tactics, was leaving out a 20-goal striker the most expensive squad call of this World Cup? Drop your verdict in the comments.
Ancelotti admitted Pedro “probably deserved” a place but said the individual characteristics of other players took precedence; in practice, Neymar’s inclusion directly cost Pedro his spot. Pedro had scored 20 goals and 9 assists for Chelsea in 2025-26 but had zero goals across eight Brazil caps.
Neymar hasn’t represented Brazil since October 17, 2023, and has managed only approximately 686 minutes of football for Santos in 2026. His six goals and four assists in Série A this season represent the entirety of his competitive match time since returning from knee surgery in December 2024.
Brazil’s nine-man forward group includes Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Martinelli, Neymar, Endrick, Matheus Cunha, Igor Thiago, Rayan, and Luiz Henrique. Igor Thiago of Brentford, the Premier League’s second-top scorer with 23 goals, is expected to lead the line.
Brazil faces Morocco on June 13 at MetLife Stadium, Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia, and Scotland on June 24 in Miami. Morocco reached the semi-finals at Qatar 2022, and the Joao Pedro Brazil World Cup 2026 snub leaves Brazil without a proven 20-goal striker if Thiago struggles against that kind of opposition.
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