AFCON 2025
Brazil star Neymar Junior has suffered an injury setback ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, just weeks after being included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the tournament.
The 34-year-old picked up a calf injury while playing for Santos in their defeat to Coritiba last weekend.
Neymar had returned to action with Santos in recent weeks as he pushed to convince new Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti to include him in the Selecao’s 26-man World Cup squad.
Initial reports from Santos suggested that the forward had not sustained any injury. But medical examinations carried out by Brazil national team doctors later confirmed that Neymar suffered a grade two calf injury.
“Yesterday Neymar had all the medical tests, which ended with an MRI that ended with a grade two injury in the calf. It is expected that in two or three weeks he will be recovered,” the Brazil Football Federation confirmed, according to Marca.
The injury is expected to rule Neymar out of Brazil’s opening World Cup fixture against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13.
There is optimism, however, that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward could return in time for Brazil’s second group game against Haiti six days later.
Neymar’s injury is a major concern for Brazil and Ancelotti, especially after the Italian tactician made the veteran attacker a surprise inclusion in his squad for the tournament.
The setback could also force Ancelotti to rethink his tactical plans if Neymar was expected to play a key role for the five-time world champions during the competition.
