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On the eve of Brazil's 2026 World Cup opener, Carlo Ancelotti offered an update on the physical condition of La Seleção's iconic star Neymar Jr.
Brazil's pursuit of a sixth World Cup crown begins with a tough clash against 2022 semifinalists Morocco, a match Ancelotti unsurprisingly confirmed Neymar will sit out due to a calf injury he has been nursing since the beginning of Brazil's pre-tournament preparations.
Neymar has yet to take part in training with the rest of Brazil's squad, but Ancelotti remains optimistic that the nation's all-time top scorer will rejoin his teammates in the near future.
"Neymar is putting in a lot of effort to get back as fast as he can," Ancelotti said at his pre-match press conference on Friday. "We expect him to be back with the group [in training] next week."
The Italian coach chose not to remove Neymar from Brazil's roster despite the injury, forgoing the chance to bring in a fully healthy alternative, such as Chelsea forward João Pedro. Ancelotti explained that Neymar's value to the squad extends well beyond his contributions on the field.
"When we called up Neymar, it wasn't solely because of his technical ability, which is beyond question," Ancelotti said. "But also for his experience, and the example he can set for the younger members of this squad."
Could Neymar Miss the Entire World Cup Group Stage?
Despite Ancelotti's encouraging words, Brazilian outlet UOL Esporte reports that Neymar's participation throughout the entire group stage remains in question.
When Neymar's grade two calf injury was formally assessed by Brazil's medical team, a recovery window of two to three weeks was established. The No. 10 appearing against Morocco seemed unlikely from the outset, but all indications had pointed toward him being available for La Seleção's fixture against Haiti on July 19.
However, UOL now suggests Neymar could also be absent for Brazil's second group match. Even upon returning to training, the forward will still need time to regain match fitness given that he hasn't played competitively since May 17. Neymar's recent injury record indicates that rushing him back could risk a recurrence, meaning Brazil may take an especially cautious approach to his rehabilitation.
Exactly when Neymar will make his 2026 World Cup bow remains uncertain, but his appearance in Brazil's No. 10 shirt for the first time in nearly three years stands as one of the most eagerly awaited moments of this summer's tournament.