New Delhi, May 29: Brazil’s hopes for a stellar performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have taken a significant hit. Star forward Neymar’s participation in the team’s opening match is now uncertain. He has also been ruled out of the warm-up matches.
Brazil is set to face Panama in Brasília on Sunday, followed by a second warm-up match against Egypt on June 5. Neymar is unlikely to play in either of these games.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) reported that Neymar, who joined the national camp on Wednesday, missed the first training session due to a medical evaluation for his injured right calf.
Scans confirmed a Grade 2 calf injury. According to the CBF’s medical team, “This is the same injury that has sidelined the forward since May 17. He last played for Santos against Coritiba on that date, where Santos suffered a defeat.”
CBF doctor Rodrigo Lasmar informed local media that the experienced forward may require two to three weeks for recovery, significantly diminishing his chances of participating in the World Cup.
Neymar arrived at the camp and joined the rest of the team at Brazil’s training center in Teresópolis, located just outside Rio de Janeiro. The final medical results are pending, but it seems unlikely that Neymar will be fit to play in Brazil’s first warm-up match against Panama this Sunday.
ESPN Brazil reported that after watching Santos secure a 3-0 victory against Deportivo Cuenca in a Copa Sudamericana match on Tuesday, Neymar did not seem overly concerned about the doubts surrounding his availability for the World Cup.
It is noteworthy that Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer, has seen his career severely impacted by injuries over the past two years. He last played for Brazil on October 17, 2023, and has scored 79 goals in 128 matches for the national team.
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