Call-up, injury and exams: Neymar completes a month away from the pitch
Neymar's call-up for the 2026 World Cup still causes discussions among fans, commentators and even former players.
The number 10 for Santos and the Brazilian team has been suffering from an injury to his right calf since Peixe's 3-0 defeat against Coritiba a month ago, the day before Brazil was called up for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Neymar leaves the Vila Belmiro field with his head down after the draw between Santos and Coritiba for the Copa do Brasil - Marco Buenavista/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images
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Neymar tries to dribble in Santos x Coritiba for the Copa do Brasil - RAPHAEL CAMPOS DO PRADO/AGÊNCIA O DIA/AGÊNCIA O DIA/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO
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Neymar and Gabigol warming up before Santos x Coritiba - Reproduction/X @SantosFC
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Neymar after Santos' defeat to Fluminense - Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images
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Neymar, Santo's attacking midfielder - Raul Baretta/Santos FC
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Neymar leaving the Vila Belmiro pitch after Santos' defeat to Fluminense - Reproduction / Social Networks
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Neymar shows apathy after Santos' comeback against Fluminense - Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images
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Castillo celebrates Fluminense's second goal against Santos, in front of Neymar - Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images
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Neymar in action in Santos x Fluminense - Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images
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Neymar takes a stance on discussion with fans and makes a promise - Reproduction
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Neymar argues with fan in Vila - Reproduction
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SANTOS, BRAZIL - APRIL 14: Neymar Junior of Santos looks on during the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 group D match between Santos and Recoleta FC at Vila Belmiro Stadium on April 14, 2026 in Santos, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images) - Getty Images
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Neymar started for Santos against Recoleta - Miguel Schincariol/AFP
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Neymar, Santos player - Getty Images
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SANTOS, BRAZIL - APRIL 14: Neymar Junior of Santos celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 group D match between Santos and Recoleta FC at Vila Belmiro Stadium on April 14, 2026 in Santos, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images) - Getty Images
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SANTOS, BRAZIL - APRIL 14: Neymar of Santos celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal during the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 group D match between Santos and Recoleta FC at Vila Belmiro Stadium on April 14, 2026 in Santos, Brazil. (Photo by Marco Buenavista/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images) - Getty Images
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Neymar, from Santos, celebrates a goal against Deportivo Recoleta, in the Sul-Americana - Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images
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Neymar celebrates Santos' goal against Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana - Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images
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Neymar in action for Santos - Photo: Pedro Souza / Atlético-MG
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Neymar and Hulk before the clash between Santos x Atlético-MG in 2025 - Pedro Souza / Atletico-MG
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Although the problem is not considered serious, Neymar has already been left out of the friendlies before the World Cup, the debut against Morocco and will possibly be left out of the rest of the group stage.
In the last match before the Brazilian team was called up for the World Cup, Neymar was greeted with celebration by the Santos fans in Vila Belmiro. Applauded even before the opening whistle, the number 10 was moved during the playing of the national anthem.
Santos x Coritiba and the confusion over Neymar's replacement
Neymar demonstrated the discomfort in his calf during the match. The number 10 lowered his midfielder and reached for the spot, but continued on the field. Shortly afterwards, he received treatment on the edge of the lawn, with a massage and spray applied to his right calf.
Then, the fourth referee raised the sign indicating Neymar's departure for Robinho Jr.'s entry, which led to confusion. The attacker quickly returned to the pitch asking to continue in the match and ended up being warned with a yellow card.
The exchange, however, would be Escobar for Robinho Jr., and not the number 10. Quite irritated, Neymar took the role of replacement to try to show that he was not the one who would leave the field.
"A shame", repeated the star as he headed towards the bench.
On social media, Santos classified the episode as "an inexplicable error that was not corrected".
Call up for the World Cup
One day later, the top scorer in the history of the Brazilian team in games recognized by FIFA, with 79 goals, Neymar was called up to compete in the 2026 World Cup. The Santos striker returned to the group after two years, which resulted in shouts and celebrations at the Museum of Tomorrow, Rio de Janeiro, where coach Carlo Ancelotti announced the 26 names.
Neymar celebrated his call-up for the 2026 World Cup with four publications, all in partnership with major brands. The player was a doubt on coach Carlo Ancelotti's list, dividing opinions about his fourth participation in the World Cup.
Frustration with delay in recovery
Neymar's return wearing the Brazilian team's shirt at the 2026 World Cup is still a doubt.
According to CBF sources, Neymar's exams showed an insufficient and immediate progression to discharge from the injury, but there was an "improvement in the recovery of the muscle fiber".
There are also plans to repeat the exams in the coming days and continue daily physiotherapy work and intensive medical and nutritional monitoring.
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Vini Jr. celebrates the great goal he scored in Brazil vs Morocco in the World Cup - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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Vinicius Junior celebrates the Brazilian team's goal against Morocco - Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Vini Jr. hits a beautiful shot and ties the game between Brazil and Morocco in group C of the World Cup - Hugo Rivera/Jam Media/Getty Images
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Vinicius Junior celebrates the Brazilian team's goal against Morocco - Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Vini Jr. shoots for the equalizer for the Brazilian team against Morocco in the group C clash of the World Cup - Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
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Ismael Saibari scored Morocco's goal against the Brazilian team in a World Cup group C match - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi fighting for space after a corner kick in Brazil x Morocco in the World Cup - Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
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Ismael Saibari scored Morocco's goal against the Brazilian team in a World Cup group C match - FIFA via Getty Images
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Ismael Saibari shoots, covers Alisson and opens the scoring for Morocco against the Brazilian team in the first round of group C of the World Cup - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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Bilal El Khannouss and Lucas Paquetá sharing the ball in Brazil x Morocco in group C of the World Cup - Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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Lucas Paquetá and Azzedine Ounahi in Brazil x Morocco in group C of the World Cup - Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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Ibañez and El Khannous compete for the ball in Brazil x Morocco in group C of the World Cup - Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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Brazil x Morocco Audience - Bruno Rodrigues/CNN
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Hakimi, from Morocco, tries a shot in the match against the Brazilian team in group C of the World Cup - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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Selections profiled before the ball rolls - ANP via Getty Images
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Neymar is on the pitch before Brazil x Morocco (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) - Getty Images
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Neymar is on the pitch before Brazil x Morocco - (Photo by Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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Marquinhos and Raphinha taking to the lawn at the New York New Jersey Stadium - Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Neymar on the lawn of the New York New Jersey Stadium - Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Brazilian fans at the New York New Jersey Stadium - Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images
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Brazilian National Team Locker Room - (Photo by Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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Brazilian National Team Locker Room - FIFA via Getty Images
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Queue of fans to access the New York New Jersey Stadium - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
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Stadium in New Jersey before Brazil and Morocco in the World Cup - Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Brazilian fan before Brazil x Morocco in the World Cup, in New Jersey - Hugo Rivera/Jam Media/Getty Images
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Stadium in New Jersey before Brazil x Morocco - Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
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Morocco players warming up at the New York New Jersey Stadium - ANP via Getty Images
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Carlo Ancelotti in the Brazilian team's debut against Morocco - MB Media/Getty Images
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Brazilian team profiled in pre-game photo - Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Neymar is no longer a doubt only against Haiti, but also against Scotland, as every day the period between a possible full recovery from the injury and the physical transition becomes shorter and shorter until the last match of the first phase on June 24th.
Selection: Ancelotti rules out cutting Neymar for World Cup
Source: CNN