Neymar’s inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s 55-man preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has anchored trader confidence at a 79 percent implied probability for a “Yes” outcome. The 34-year-old Santos forward, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, has shown positive signs of recovery from his 2023 ACL tear and subsequent setbacks by managing limited minutes at his boyhood club. Ancelotti has stressed that only players demonstrating peak physical condition will make the final 26-man roster, and Neymar’s recent return to competitive action addresses that requirement directly. While lingering knee concerns and the need to stay injury-free through the next several weeks remain key variables, the Seleção’s reliance on his creativity and leadership in attack has kept market sentiment tilted heavily toward selection.