Neymar missed Brazil's first training session on May 27, 2026, as he underwent medical tests for a right calf injury, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The 34-year-old forward was sent to a private clinic in Teresopolis for MRI scans, which revealed a grade-two calf strain involving a partial tear of muscle fibers [7, 2, 8, 9, 10]. CBF doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said, "He is expected to be cleared in two to three weeks" after rest and rehabilitation [7].
The injury rules Neymar out of Brazil's upcoming friendlies against Panama on May 31 and Egypt on June 6, 2026, and he is also expected to miss Brazil's World Cup Group C opener against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey [7, 2, 8, 9, 10]. Brazil's group includes Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland [1, 2, 4, 5, 10].
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti emphasized that Neymar will receive no special treatment. "His place in the squad would be strictly based on fitness and form, not sentiment," he said [1]. Ancelotti also noted, "We spent the entire year analysing Neymar. We realised that in this last period he had continuity" playing well at club level before the injury [2].
Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances. Before this call-up for the 2026 World Cup, he had not played for Brazil since 2023 [1, 2, 5, 6]. Santos club doctor Rodrigo Zogaib earlier indicated the problem was just swelling and expected Neymar to arrive fit for training on May 26, but the MRI revealed a more serious strain [7, 2, 8, 9, 10].
Ancelotti's squad was already missing defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos and forward Gabriel Martinelli for the Panama friendly due to their Champions League final commitments [1, 7, 2, 3, 8, 9, 6, 10].
Neymar joined the Brazil camp at Granja Comary on May 26 but missed the first session the following day as tests were performed [7, 2, 8, 9, 10] [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Brazil faces Panama on May 31, Egypt on June 6, and opens its World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13, all matches Neymar is now expected to miss [1, 7, 2, 4, 5, 10].
