Will Neymar, Messi, and Ronaldo play in the 2026 World Cup?

[Wakate]

The majority of people voted that Messi and Ronaldo would still play in this World Cup, and very few voted for Neymar. This shows that people are more confident that Messi and Ronaldo will play in this World Cup than Neymar due to his current health issues. Although it is hoped that Neymar will still be able to play as he is one of Brazil's best players, seeing Ancelotti's decision to once again not consider Neymar for the main squad makes his chances of playing in this World Cup very unlikely.

Messi and Ronaldo are two wonderful players with great potentials that even at there current age most young players cannot compare themselves to them. They may be old but still possess all it takes to surface in the forth coming world Cup and still do what they are known for in the football pitchs so the probability that they both will feature in the world Cup is still sure and certain except they are injured that is the only time I can have doubt on there presence in the world Cup. As for Neymar, know doubt he is a good player with great talent
but his illness can stand as a barrier for him except he can recover quickly and train to get fit for the tournament if not his presence in the world Cup won't be possible as Brazil has are lot of options.

It is true because we all thought that Ronaldo and Messi will retire from football and might not participate in this season of world cup but due to their skills and body formations, they are still playing better than most players at their current age.
Messi and Ronaldo is going to be participating in this year world cup competition and I hope to high expectations from these great players.

[DYOR+BTC]

The majority of people voted that Messi and Ronaldo would still play in this World Cup, and very few voted for Neymar. This shows that people are more confident that Messi and Ronaldo will play in this World Cup than Neymar due to his current health issues. Although it is hoped that Neymar will still be able to play as he is one of Brazil's best players, seeing Ancelotti's decision to once again not consider Neymar for the main squad makes his chances of playing in this World Cup very unlikely.

Messi and Ronaldo are two wonderful players with great potentials that even at there current age most young players cannot compare themselves to them. They may be old but still possess all it takes to surface in the forth coming world Cup and still do what they are known for in the football pitchs so the probability that they both will feature in the world Cup is still sure and certain except they are injured that is the only time I can have doubt on there presence in the world Cup. As for Neymar, know doubt he is a good player with great talent
but his illness can stand as a barrier for him except he can recover quickly and train to get fit for the tournament if not his presence in the world Cup won't be possible as Brazil has are lot of options.

It is true because we all thought that Ronaldo and Messi will retire from football and might not participate in this season of world cup but due to their skills and body formations, they are still playing better than most players at their current age.
Messi and Ronaldo is going to be participating in this year world cup competition and I hope to high expectations from these great players.

Talking about them retiring from football i think it will be a topic of next year or upper one as both are still as strong as if they are in there later 20s, I watch Cristiano's games before the international break and I have come to realise that he is not yet ready to announce his retirement until he hits that 1000 goal tally he dreams of.
Cristiano Ronaldo have mentioned hitting a thousand senior career goals which he has succeeded in scoring 965 career goals with the balance of just 35 goals and with the way things are going he may decide to remain active in football until he hits that dream goal, with his current form maybe his tally will be increased in the world Cup tournament.

[Daniel91]

Most of their fans for sure still want to see them play. The only question now is whether they can still contribute at a high level, since they are no longer in their prime.
Cristiano Ronaldo might still be able to perform, but when it comes to Lionel Messi and Neymar I don’t think they can keep up with the younger players anymore.
If I were them given their current situation, I will not join the world cup. They don’t have anything left to prove anyway. It’s better to leave it to the younger players who are still in their prime and not injury prone lol.

Why do you feel that Ronaldo of 40+ will be able to perform while both Neymar and Messi below 40 will not perform?

Also remember that WC is another world of reality, it is not only about young blood, there is a place for experience. A mixture will make more sense. In the last WC, Spain relied only of youthful energy and didn't succeed.

IMO, if there is anyone among them that is supposed to exempt himself from the WC, it's Messi. He is the current champion, so Ronaldo and Neymar needs it badly.

I also will like the coaches to include them all. Even when injured, a slot for them is a big plus to the national team.

Realistically, the World Cup is the most difficult competition in the world to win, and national teams should always play with players who are the most prepared and best at that moment, rather than players playing based on past merit.
A good example of this is Portugal's performance at the last World Cup in Qatar and their match against Morocco in the knockout stage, which they lost.
Ronaldo really tried his best in that match but he was powerless and could not help his team.
He was simply too slow and with too little contribution in defense.
In the match before that, Portugal rested Ronaldo and played without him and in that match Portugal looked much better because they played with younger, faster and more explosive players in attack.
In my opinion, Portugal would have achieved a much better result at the recent championship in Qatar if, instead of giving Ronaldo a chance because of his past merits, they gave a chance to younger and faster attackers.
Yes, Ronaldo still plays and scores goals but where? In Saudi Arabia, a league that is not competitive with the best English leagues, such as Spain or England.
Neymar is currently injured and not ready, and Messi is playing in the American league, so I'm not sure that their contribution at the upcoming World Cup will be on the same level as in Qatar.

[bastisisca]

Ronaldo and Messi will play the World Cup but as for Neymar, I am not sure but when the time comes and he is fit to play the tournament, The Brazilian Coach, Carlo Ancelotti didn't include Neymar in the preparatory training though this is not the final selection. In a competitive tournament like the World Cup, Coaches use players who are strong to run and score and I don't think Neymar is fitted to enter the field. But for the other two players will play but I was thinking that, the last World Cup was the last one for Messi.

Nobody knows, it all depends on Carlo Ancelotti's decision.
However, i agree in saying that for all three: Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar (if he plays) it will be the last World Cup. After that they will be too old to play anymore.
Unfortunately, but we must move forward.

[SatoPrincess]

Brazil will come somewhere in between these two extremes. They can manage to some extent without Neymar. But the squad will be obviously strengthened in case Neymar is included.

To be honest, I don’t think Brazil needs Neymar. While he’s an incredible player, skilled with the ball and  reliable goal scorer, injuries has taken a toll on him and frankly Neymar has not been fit for years. Based on my sentiments and also considering his impact on the game, I think Neymar deserves his last chance at the World Cup.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

Brazil will come somewhere in between these two extremes. They can manage to some extent without Neymar. But the squad will be obviously strengthened in case Neymar is included.

To be honest, I don’t think Brazil needs Neymar. While he’s an incredible player, skilled with the ball and  reliable goal scorer, injuries has taken a toll on him and frankly Neymar has not been fit for years. Based on my sentiments and also considering his impact on the game, I think Neymar deserves his last chance at the World Cup.

A nation should never be so hooked or dependent on a player or group of players in the way that when that player is no longer available to play for whatever reason, that Nation's football team becomes like a naked mad man on the street that simply is existing but has no goals, no purpose and stands for nothing..

For me, Neymar might still be considered a young player at the current age of 34 but to some instance, I feel that he's had his time and by now, Brazil ought to have discovered new talents that can easily be his replacement just in case any thing happens that causes him not to be able to play with the national team anymore, but unfortunately, this is a major issue with the football team in a lot of countries, they stop hunting for new talents immediately they feel they've got one or two players in the team that are really talented and can help the team win every or most of their games..

[bitgolden]

Neymar is still wanted by the players, they want their friend and sort of mentor to be there. Even Vini, who basically plays at the same position as Neymar, wants him there, who wouldn't, even if the dude doesn't play, being there with the team alone is good enough for them.

But the reality is that Neymar may not even stay healthy until then, we could even see him yet again injured, because this dude is injured so often that we do not know what's going to happen, we just assume.

[Junii]

Yeah i saw those predictions too and  honestly if I had to bet i did  say Messi will probably be there  if he stay fit for sure. Neymar though currently there are 36% chances of playing in 2026 so i am not so sure. His injuries keep holding him back and if Ancelotti drops him it is tough. So I think messi will make it but we will see.

[Agbe]

Based on my sentiments and also considering his impact on the game, I think Neymar deserves his last chance at the World Cup.

That decision will come from Carlo Ancelotti. If Neymar health is not good or strong for him to play this world, he should not and just relax because health is the most priority. It is better for him to retire at once than complicating issue for himself. He can come to the stadium to watch his team mate performance. And from what I heard, Carlo Ancelotti will only picked fitted players and Neymar is not fitted so he will miss the World Cup. But let's still wait to see the squad from Brazil.

[IceLincoln]

Brazil will come somewhere in between these two extremes. They can manage to some extent without Neymar. But the squad will be obviously strengthened in case Neymar is included.

To be honest, I don’t think Brazil needs Neymar. While he’s an incredible player, skilled with the ball and  reliable goal scorer, injuries has taken a toll on him and frankly Neymar has not been fit for years. Based on my sentiments and also considering his impact on the game, I think Neymar deserves his last chance at the World Cup.

Have you seen the Brazil of today?, they absolutely need a player of the calibre of Neymar Jnr, when Vinicius was in his red hot form he couldn’t replicate such form with the Brazilian national team and right now Raphinha for all his energy and talent isn’t really that Leader yet in the team.
The Brazilian squad lacks coordination and creativity. They need a rally point of some sorts, and there’s no player give them such. Neymar needs to go to the World Cup even if he doesn’t play all games (cos his form has dropped) but his presence sure will be a huge fire to the other boys.

[Antotena]

Nobody knows, it all depends on Carlo Ancelotti's decision.
However, i agree in saying that for all three: Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar (if he plays) it will be the last World Cup. After that they will be too old to play anymore.
Unfortunately, but we must move forward.

I don't think in the history of El clasico there has been any rivalries between Real Madrid and Barcelona, this has help FIFA generated tremendous amount of money even in the last World cup between Argentina and Portugal. Neymar might not be doing well but as long as Ronaldo and Messi are playing in another league, they are going to be invited to the national team to come represent them, I'm not even sure if Argentina will go without Messi, it's not possible.

Before we will see these players face off from national team, we will see what each of them will have to play in their respective clubs. Messi has stakes in Inter Miami, he is the icon and face of the club, that means atleast he will be there in the next 2-3 years, same goes for Ronaldo. Until this period elapse before we can know if we are going to have them. Nevertheless, I don't think we will see much players that are going to be controversial like these guys.

[SatoPrincess]

Based on my sentiments and also considering his impact on the game, I think Neymar deserves his last chance at the World Cup.

That decision will come from Carlo Ancelotti. If Neymar health is not good or strong for him to play this world, he should not and just relax because health is the most priority. It is better for him to retire at once than complicating issue for himself. He can come to the stadium to watch his team mate performance. And from what I heard, Carlo Ancelotti will only picked fitted players and Neymar is not fitted so he will miss the World Cup. But let's still wait to see the squad from Brazil.

It is imprtant to note that Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 12 appearances, while he may not be 100% fit,  he has the accolades to back him up and also the love of the fans. I think Neymar is counting on that to be in the World Cup. 

[whiteblue]

Brazil will come somewhere in between these two extremes. They can manage to some extent without Neymar. But the squad will be obviously strengthened in case Neymar is included.

To be honest, I don’t think Brazil needs Neymar. While he’s an incredible player, skilled with the ball and  reliable goal scorer, injuries has taken a toll on him and frankly Neymar has not been fit for years. Based on my sentiments and also considering his impact on the game, I think Neymar deserves his last chance at the World Cup.

Neymar is quite great and indeed one of the world's star players during his prime, but after the amount of time spent healing his injury, will we see the style of play brought by Neymar again? I strongly doubt it and in fact I think he has experienced a decline in performance which is quite a lot for sure.
His retirement plan has been rumored to be the end of 2026 and if his ACL can be healed after treatment then he could appear in the world cup but if there are still many injuries to be treated he should not force himself in my opinion.