Neymar injury scare clouds Brazil's World Cup opener vs Morocco
Synopsis
Neymar's World Cup dream is under fresh threat — a calf injury kept him off the pitch for Santos just weeks before Brazil's opener against Morocco. With his last Brazil appearance dating to an ACL rupture in October 2023, manager Carlo Ancelotti is betting on experience and chemistry over form. The stakes couldn't be higher: a fit Neymar could rewrite Brazilian football history.
Key Takeaways
Neymar missed Santos' Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo on Wednesday due to a calf injury.
Club doctor Rodrigo Zogaib said Neymar would be ready for Brazil's pre-World Cup training session on 27 May .
Neymar last played for Brazil in October 2023 , when he ruptured his ACL in a qualifier against Uruguay .
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti selected Neymar on experience and squad chemistry, not recent form.
Brazil open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on 13 June .
A fit Neymar at the tournament would be his fourth World Cup , equalling a record held by eight other Brazilian legends.
Neymar has suffered a fresh injury setback less than a month before Brazil's opening FIFA World Cup match against Morocco, raising new concerns about the forward's fitness ahead of the tournament. The 34-year-old Santos attacker missed his club's home Copa Sudamericana fixture against San Lorenzo on Wednesday with a calf complaint.
The Injury and Club's Response
Santos team doctor Rodrigo Zogaib moved quickly to calm fears, stating that Neymar would be available for Brazil's first pre-World Cup training session on 27 May. 'Neymar will report to the national team fit or very close to being fit,' Zogaib was quoted as saying by news outlet O Globo. 'There is even a chance he could play against Deportivo Cuenca next Tuesday.'
The calf issue is the latest in a string of physical setbacks that have dogged the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker since his return to boyhood club Santos in January last year. Since that comeback, he has managed only 17 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.
Neymar's Long Road Back to the National Team
Neymar last featured for Brazil in October 2023, when he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay — an injury that ruled him out for well over a year. He has not received a national team call-up since that match, making his inclusion in Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti's 26-man squad a selection based on potential and pedigree rather than recent form.
Ancelotti addressed this directly on Monday, saying: 'It was always a physical issue for him. He played the last few matches consistently. He can improve his physical condition before the first World Cup match. Experience in this type of competition and the affection he has within the group can help create the best atmosphere.'
What Is at Stake for Neymar Historically
Should Neymar feature at the tournament, this will be his fourth FIFA World Cup, having appeared in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions. He would join a distinguished group — Castilho, Djalma Santos, Nilton Santos, Pelé, Emerson Leão, Cafu, Ronaldo, and Thiago Silva — as the Brazilian player with the joint-most World Cup appearances. He also stands to become only the second player after Pelé to wear Brazil's No. 10 shirt at four different World Cups.
Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 international matches, and has recorded 8 goals and 3 assists across his 13 World Cup appearances to date.
Brazil's World Cup Schedule
The FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Brazil open their campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on 13 June, before facing Haiti and Scotland in Group C. All eyes will be on Neymar's fitness in the days leading up to that opener.
Point of View
And his ACL history means every knock carries outsized risk. Brazil's Group C opponents will be watching closely. If Neymar arrives underprepared, the burden on the rest of the attack multiplies — and the romantic narrative around his fourth World Cup could quickly become a liability.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What injury did Neymar suffer before the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Neymar sustained a calf injury that caused him to miss Santos' Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo on Wednesday. Club doctor Rodrigo Zogaib said the injury is not serious and that Neymar is expected to be fit for Brazil's pre-World Cup training session on 27 May.
When does Brazil play their first World Cup match?
Brazil face Morocco in New Jersey on 13 June in their opening Group C match of the FIFA World Cup. They will subsequently play Haiti and Scotland in the group stage.
Why was Neymar selected despite not playing for Brazil since 2023?
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar's selection was not based on recent form, citing his experience in major tournaments and his positive influence on squad morale as the key factors.
What records could Neymar break at the 2026 World Cup?
If Neymar features at the tournament, he will become one of the Brazilian players with the joint-most World Cup appearances, alongside legends including Pelé, Cafu, and Ronaldo. He would also become only the second player after Pelé to wear Brazil's No. 10 shirt at four different World Cups.
How has Neymar performed since returning to Santos?
Since rejoining Santos in January last year, Neymar has scored 17 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions — a return hampered by recurring physical setbacks following his ACL rupture in October 2023.
