Neymar misses Brazil training again as calf injury puts World Cup participation in doubt

Neymar’s participation in the 2026 World Cup remains in serious doubt after the Brazil forward skipped training on Monday to undergo further medical examinations on his injured right calf, with the Brazilian football confederation yet to release the results.

Hopes that the 34-year-old would return to the training pitch in Morristown, New Jersey were dashed when he was instead taken to a clinic for tests. Neymar has not taken part in a single full training session since Brazil began their World Cup preparations, having been sidelined since sustaining the calf injury while playing for Santos on 17 May.

Brazilian media reports suggest the medical team is targeting his return for the knockout stages, though that timeline depends entirely on the outcome of Monday’s examinations. Brazil face Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday, a fixture Neymar looks certain to miss.

The urgency surrounding his fitness has sharpened following Brazil’s underwhelming 1-1 draw against Morocco in their Group D opener on Saturday. The Seleção’s attacking struggles in that game amplified calls for the return of a playmaker of Neymar’s experience. Despite being unable to play, he was present at MetLife Stadium before kick-off, where he was spotted alongside rapper Travis Scott and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Neymar’s inclusion in the squad by new head coach Carlo Ancelotti had already proved contentious. Supporters of the decision argue the veteran — whose first World Cup came on home soil in 2014, making this his fourth tournament — still offers irreplaceable experience. Critics counter that he is past his best and may have displaced a younger, in-form player.

Three further Brazil squad members — Gabriel Magalhães, Bruno Guimarães, and Raphinha — also trained separately on Monday as they work to improve their own fitness levels.

Off the pitch, Neymar and his partner Bruna Biancardi announced on social media on Monday that they are expecting their third daughter together. Neymar also has a teenage son from a previous relationship.