Neymar, Brazil’s record scorer, has not played since 2023, but injuries now appear to threaten his return to the World Cup.
Published May 28, 2026
Brazil’s World Cup preparations were thrown into disarray after Neymar missed the national team’s “first training session” to undergo medical tests, leaving his place in the squad in jeopardy.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that the 34-year-old forward, who is recovering from a right calf injury, did not take part in the closed session at the Gran Ja Comari facility and was referred to a private clinic in Teresópolis for imaging tests.
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Neymar’s absence quickly became a major storyline on the second day of Brazil’s training camp for the 2026 World Cup, which the CBF said in a statement: “No further information will be released until the medical staff of the Brazilian national team have completed their assessment.”
The Brazilian squad will play three more sessions at Gran Ja Comalí before Sunday’s friendly against Panama at the Maracanã.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti is already without three players for this match. Defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos and forward Gabriel Martinelli will feature in Saturday’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Neymar’s recall last week caused widespread excitement as he had not been part of Ancelotti’s plans during the Italian’s year in charge.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has not played for his country since 2023. His return comes as his fitness and form come under intense scrutiny after years of injury troubles and a poor spell at Santos.
Timing couldn’t be more delicate. After facing Panama, Brazil will face Egypt in Cleveland in their final friendly before opening the World Cup against African champion Morocco in New Jersey on June 13. Brazil and Morocco were placed in Group C, along with Haiti and Scotland.
Ancelotti has already made it clear that reputation alone will not secure Neymar’s place.
He said earlier this month that Neymar would receive no special treatment and that his place in the team would be determined strictly based on fitness and form, not emotion.
For now, Brazil is waiting for the medical verdict. And we’re waiting to see if the most famous names are fit to take center stage next month.
