India, June 24 -- Brazilian football has revolved around Neymar for more than a decade now. New stars have emerged, coaches have come and gone, but the conversation has always returned to the former Barcelona attacker. The ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup perfectly reflects Neymar's influence over Brazilian football.

When Carlo Ancelotti announced his World Cup squad, Neymar wasn't expected to be included. But under pressure from fans and current and former players, Ancelotti included him on the roster, with Joao Pedro missing out.

On paper, it looked like a romantic story. Brazil's all-time leading scorer had battled injuries for years and was returning to the biggest stage after three years away from the international setup.

But beneath t...