Neymar’s recent injury setback is causing concern in the Brazil camp ahead of the World Cup

Brazil face fresh injury concerns after Neymar suffered another setback just weeks before the World Cup kicks off in North America on June 12.

Neymar’s fresh injury is causing concern in Brazil’s pre-World Cup camp (Reuters photo)

Star forward Neymar suffered another injury with Santos just days after being named in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad, sparking concern in camp ahead of the North American tournament, which starts on June 12. The 34-year-old forward was diagnosed with what Santos described as a minor calf injury, although the timing immediately focused on his fitness.

Santos said medical tests revealed two millimeters of edema in Neymar’s right calf, with the club’s medical department confirming the problem on Wednesday. The setback comes shortly after Neymar returned to the Brazil squad following a long recovery from a serious knee injury he suffered in 2023.

Neymar has already missed Santos’ Copa Sudamericana game against San Lorenzo and is expected to miss the league game against Gremio. He is now racing against time to recover before reporting for Brazilian duty on May 27, with both Santos and the Brazilian Football Confederation closely monitoring his progress.

Rodrigo Zogaib, head of Santos’ medical team, played down the seriousness of the injury. “Neymar has a slight calf injury, edema,” said Zogaib ge. “But according to our planning, his progress will allow him to be fit next week when he joins the national team.

Failure also brought additional scrutiny Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include Neymar in Brazil’s final squad. According to ESPN, the Italian has made it clear that he only wants fully fit players for selection. Concerns within the coaching staff are understood to be whether the injury could affect Neymar’s early training work and his availability for Brazil’s friendly against Panama at the Maracana on May 31. Neymar has been working with his personal medical team at Santos’ Rei Pele Training Center in an attempt to speed up his recovery.

Speaking to Santos TV after his phone call, Neymar reflected on his return to the Selecao after a long absence. “I cried for several hours, it wasn’t easy to get here. After my name was announced, you know it was worth it to overcome everything, to endure the effort,” he said. He also thanked those involved in his recovery, adding: “My challenge was not just for me, it was for everyone involved in the process.”

Brazil have medical assurances for now that the latest problem is minor, but Neymar’s condition will remain under close watch as the team prepares for the World Cup. Given that the striker only recently returned after a long layoff, even a small setback became a matter of consequence.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

May 22, 2026 1:29 PM IST

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