Neymar injury sparks World Cup fears
The Santos striker was a surprise inclusion in Ancelotti’s World Cup squad, and now an injury has fans on edge.
Geologists across Brazil probably received the same phone notification earlier in the week as the country suffered a slight wobble on the Richter scale. The epicentre of the quake was the CBF offices, the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Federation; Carlo Ancelotti’s squad announcement had a reaction that genuinely rocked the country from top to bottom.
Neymar, the 34-year-old Santos star, was a surprise inclusion on Ancelotti’s list for the upcoming World Cup, sparking wild celebrations of yellow, blue, and green.
The former Barcelona winger was widely expected to miss out on the call, with compatriots João Pedro and Antony jotted down on many a betting slip ahead of the press conference. But Ancelotti went with experience over everything else, picking Neymar over the goals and assists provided by two of Europe’s top attacking talents this season.
CONVOCADOS! 🫵
— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) May 18, 2026
VAMOS FAZER HISTÓRIA JUNTOS! 💛💚#BateNoPeito
ISSO É BRASIL! pic.twitter.com/EFaOm1oIeT
Neymar’s “minor” injury
So when Neymar’s injury was announced, the oxygen levels of the country dipped as a collective gasp of air was held inside 212 million pairs of lungs: a calf issue the culprit.
“Neymar has a minor calf injury, an edema,” Santos head of medical Rodrigo Zogaib told Brazilian sports network “ge.” “But, according to our planning, his progress will allow him to be fit next week when he will join up with the national team.”
The fixed gaze of the CBF medical staff through the physio room window has been a constant presence at the Santos Rei Pelé Training Center this week, with the national team keen to be made aware of any developments to his physical state.
Brazil play Panana in a pre-World Cup friendly on May 31 before taking on Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland in Group C of the tournament.
Resiliência 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/hPda9uTlsx
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) May 1, 2026
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