The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner. Carlo Ancelotti surprised the football world with the inclusion of Neymar Jr. in the squad. “Ney” entered the final list after gaining continuity with Santos FC. However, the former FC Barcelona player would have new physical problems. Neymar Jr. would be out of the national team for two weeks.

Neymar Jr. would have had some problems with his calf/gear of his right leg. This injury would have kept him out of the last games and training sessions.

The entity that governs Brazilian football reported that Neymar Jr. could not take part in the first training sessions. The Santos FC footballer had to undergo medical tests to have a clearer picture of his discomfort.

"The Brazilian Football Confederation reports that the player Neymar Jr. did not participate in the training of the Brazilian team, held this Wednesday afternoon in Teresópolis. The player was transferred to a clinic in the city to undergo further tests," the federative entity reported.

The confederation itself cautiously assumed the dissemination of Neymar Jr.'s physical condition. The statement did not explain much of the details of this new injury, nor the recovery times. Rodrigo Lasmar, doctor of the Brazilian team, explained that Neymar suffers a grade 2 injury to his calf.

In this sense, Neymar Jr. would miss two to three weeks for his recovery. The Brazilian midfielder would be absent from the two friendly matches of the “Canarinha” before the 2026 World Cup: May 31 against Panama and June 6 against Egypt.

Neymar Jr.'s ordeal

Neymar Jr.'s career has been characterized by being plagued by injuries. But everything worsened since his change of scenery to Arab football. As soon as he signed for Al Hilal in 2023, “Ney” had many muscle problems in his left thigh. But in October 2023 he had the biggest injury of all: a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee. The Brazilian was out of commission for more than a year.

Neymar Jr. returned to action in November 2024. The Brazilian played just 29 minutes for Al Hilal before suffering a new injury: a severe tear in his hamstring (hamstring) that kept him off the field for another 6 weeks.

In 2025 Neymar Jr. returned to Santos FC. But being close to his people didn't change his status much. The former FC Barcelona player has had problems with the meniscus, chronic muscle fatigue and now calf problems that would be linked to compensation on the opposite side of his operated knee (right leg).