Brazil forward Neymar has suffered another injury setback ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being diagnosed with a grade II calf muscle injury, raising fresh concerns over his fitness for the tournament.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed on Thursday that the Santos star will be sidelined for between two and three weeks after medical examinations revealed a more serious problem than initially expected.
Neymar will now miss Brazil’s preparatory friendlies ahead of the World Cup and could also face a race against time to be fit for the Selecao’s opening match against Morocco on June 13.
Speaking in Teresópolis before the press conferences of Casemiro and Weverton, Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar provided an update on the condition of the experienced forward.
‘”Yesterday Neymar underwent all the medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan that revealed a grade two calf injury, not just edema. He is expected to recover in two or three weeks”, said the doctor.
Neymar Faces Race Against Time to Return Before Brazil’s World Cup Opener
The diagnosis came as a surprise after Santos had earlier informed the Brazilian Football Confederation that Neymar was only dealing with edema and would be fit enough to join training camp on the 27th.
Santos team doctor Rodrigo Zogaib had previously assured the national team that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker would arrive fully available for training, but that timeline has now changed following the latest scan results.
If Neymar manages to recover within the optimistic two-week timeframe, he could return to action on June 11, only two days before Brazil begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco.
Brazil’s second group game is scheduled for June 19 against Haiti, meaning the coaching staff will closely monitor Neymar’s recovery in the coming days.
Neymar inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad had already generated major discussion across Brazil, especially since the Italian manager had not called him up since taking charge of the national team in May 2025.
However, Ancelotti eventually decided to include the forward after observing improvements in his physical condition and after Neymar managed to enjoy a more consistent run of games with Santos in recent months.
The latest injury setback has now created uncertainty over Neymar’s readiness for the tournament, with Brazil supporters hoping the country’s all-time leading scorer can recover in time to lead the team at the World Cup.
