Neymar injured again: Brazilian star's participation in World Cup 2026 in doubt

Brazil national team star Neymar has suffered another injury just days after being named to the squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Santos forward has been diagnosed with a calf muscle issue, raising concerns about his preparation for the tournament in North America. This is reported by Goal.com reports .

Rodrigo Zogaib, head of the Santos medical department, stated that medical examinations revealed a 2mm edema in Neymar's right calf. This comes at an inconvenient time for the 34-year-old, who had only recently returned to the Brazil squad following a severe knee injury sustained in 2023.

The forward has already missed Santos' Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo and is expected to sit out the league clash against Gremio. Neymar must now accelerate his recovery to join the national team by May 27.

Club doctor Zogaib noted that the injury is not serious and expressed confidence that the player will be ready by next week. Speaking about his return to the national team, Neymar emphasized how emotionally significant this call-up is after a long hiatus and that it is worth overcoming all challenges.