Neymar 's inclusion in Brazil's World Cup squad was a hot topic long before Carlo Ancelotti finalised his selections. The Italian had not called up Neymar in the build-up to the tournament, which only made the decision more divisive when it came.
Some felt Neymar's experience and reputation still warranted a place, while others pointed to his recent fitness issues and form as reasons to leave him out. So when Ancelotti did include him, it caught many by surprise, and the debate has not quietened down since.
Now, a new angle has emerged. A Brazilian journalist has reported claims that the decision was not entirely down to the manager.
Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images
O Globo's journalist Lauro Jardim reported that Francisco Mendes, son of Supreme Court minister Gilmar Mendes, told those close to him that he played a role in Neymar's selection.
According to the report, Francisco allegedly said: "Who called Neymar up was me."
While there is no public evidence that Ancelotti's authority was overridden, the claim has stirred fresh controversy.
Francisco's name carries weight in Brazilian football circles. He is connected to the Mato Grosso federation and, through the Brazilian Institute of Education (IDP), has ties to the CBF Academy project.
The IDP's partnership with the CBF, signed in 2023 and set to run for a decade, is reported to give the institute significant influence, including a substantial share of academy revenue and growing administrative power.
As Francisco's father, Gilmar, is one of the country's most influential judicial figures, the report quickly became a talking point.
Now, what started as a debate over Neymar's sports merit has taken on a wider dimension, raising questions about the forces shaping decisions inside the CBF.
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