Just when it looked like Neymar would finally get one more shot at World Cup glory, disaster has struck again.
According to Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, Neymar is expected to miss two to three weeks after suffering a Grade 2 strain in his right calf. The injury puts his availability for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco in serious doubt.
For Brazil fans, this story feels painfully familiar.
The 34-year-old has spent much of the past three years battling injuries. He missed significant time following his devastating ACL injury in 2023 and has endured multiple setbacks since returning. Now, with the 2026 World Cup only days away, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer is once again racing against the clock.
What makes this even more frustrating is that Neymar had finally forced his way back into the national team picture. Carlo Ancelotti included him in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite concerns about his fitness because of the experience, creativity and leadership he brings to the team.
The good news for Brazil is that this isn’t necessarily tournament-ending. Doctors expect Neymar to return within two to three weeks, meaning he could still feature later in the group stage or in the knockout rounds if Brazil advances.
Still, missing the opener would be a massive blow.
Brazil enters the tournament as one of the favorites to lift the trophy, with stars like Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Rodrygo and others expected to carry much of the attacking burden. But Neymar remains the emotional heartbeat of the squad. Even at this stage of his career, few players can change a match with a single moment of brilliance quite like he can.
The cruel reality is that Neymar’s World Cup career has often been defined as much by injuries as by his incredible talent. In 2014, a fractured vertebra ended his tournament. In 2022, an ankle injury limited him. Now, in what could be his final World Cup appearance, another injury threatens to derail the dream before it even begins.
Brazil will hope this is only a temporary setback.
Because if Neymar can get healthy before the knockout stage, the Selecao’s chances of winning their first World Cup since 2002 increase dramatically.
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