Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s upcoming friendlies after suffering a calf injury, with the forward now facing a race against time to be fit for the start of the World Cup.
Brazil have been dealt a major injury setback after Neymar was ruled out of the national team’s next two friendly matches due to a calf problem that could also threaten his participation in their opening World Cup fixture.
🚨⚠️ BREAKING: Neymar Jr suffers a new injury and will be out for 2/3 weeks, tests have confirmed.
Ney will miss the friendly games before the World Cup and could miss opening game against Morocco. pic.twitter.com/MiqUtspbFi
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2026
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the news on Thursday, with team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealing that the 34-year-old has suffered a grade two injury to his right calf.
According to the medical assessment, Neymar is expected to be sidelined for between two and three weeks, forcing him to miss the final phase of Brazil’s preparations ahead of the tournament.
As a result, the forward will not feature in upcoming friendlies against Panama on May 31 and Egypt on June 6, leaving the coaching staff without one of their most experienced players.
There are also growing concerns that Neymar could miss Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco, with his availability dependent on how quickly he recovers over the coming weeks.
Lasmar stressed that the injury is more serious than simple swelling, confirming that detailed examinations had revealed a muscle problem that requires careful management.
Don’t believe anything you read regarding Neymar as it’s all exaggerated and fabricated to get clicks.
These are the FACTS
– His situation is very clear and not a surprise.
– Santos confirmed Neymar had swelling but was nearly fit to play and sent Brazil a medical report.
— AllThingsBrazil™ (@SelecaoTalk) May 28, 2026
The injury was officially diagnosed after Neymar missed Brazil’s first training session at Granja Comary on Wednesday and was instead sent for medical tests at a local clinic in Teresópolis.
The Santos star had been experiencing discomfort since May 17, when he suffered the issue during a Brazilian league match against Coritiba.
He has not returned to full training since then, and Brazil will now anxiously monitor his recovery as the World Cup draws closer.
