Neymar returned to Brazil… and brands went crazy

After months of uncertainty and speculation, Carlo Ancelotti finally confirmed that Neymar will play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, officially marking his return to the Brazilian national team after nearly three years away due to physical problems.

But the news did not only shake Brazilian football. Just minutes after his name officially appeared on the squad list, the Santos superstar began generating millions off the pitch thanks to the enormous media impact he still carries worldwide.

According to Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola, Neymar earned approximately 30 million Brazilian reais, close to 6 million dollars, in less than one hour after his World Cup call-up became official.

Three brands paid millions to appear alongside Neymar

The Brazilian’s inclusion in the final squad instantly turned his social media accounts into some of the most valuable advertising spaces on the planet.

According to Nicola, brands such as Mercado Livre, Puma, and Red Bull immediately took advantage of the global attention generated by the announcement and launched collaborations with Neymar just minutes after the official squad reveal.

Each company reportedly paid around 10 million reais for the campaigns posted with the player, quickly bringing the total to 30 million and turning the story viral across Brazilian media and social platforms.

Neymar also exploded on social media

The impact was not limited to money alone. Following Brazil’s official announcement, Neymar also experienced massive growth on social media, gaining more than 1.1 million followers on Instagram within just a few hours.

The Brazilian became the player with the biggest digital growth among all Brazil call-ups and continues to establish himself as one of the most influential athletes on the planet, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in total Instagram followers among athletes.

All of this proves that, even after years marked by injuries and controversy, Neymar remains a global marketing machine and one of the most media-driven figures in world sports.

Brazil dreams of a sixth World Cup title

Now, beyond the commercial and digital phenomenon, Neymar’s biggest mission will be helping Brazil win another World Cup, something the Seleção has not achieved since Korea/Japan 2002.

Brazil enters the 2026 tournament in Group C, where it will face Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland during the group stage.

The Brazilian debut will take place on June 13 against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, officially marking Neymar’s return to football’s biggest stage.

Everything you need to know about Brazil in the World Cup

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