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Neymar may have further damaged his already slim chances of featuring at the 2026 World Cup, following an incident in which he allegedly directed discriminatory language at a referee while playing for Santos.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward could face a ban of up to 10 matches, costing him precious opportunities to impress national team coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has already raised concerns about the veteran's physical condition.
In an apparent violation of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD), Neymar is reported by UOL to have used a misogynistic slur, implying that referee Savio Pereira Sampaio was "on his period" following Santos' victory over Remo in Brazil's top division.
Article 243-G of the CBJD addresses "discriminatory, disdainful, or outrageous acts," and a recent precedent has already been set through the São Paulo State sports court. Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marques was charged last month for saying "it's no use putting a woman in charge of refereeing" during a match officiated by female referee Daiane Muniz.
Violating Article 243-G carries a ban ranging from five to 10 matches, and Marques received an eight-game suspension. The Red Bull Bragantino player was also handed an additional four-match ban under a separate rule that is not believed to apply in Neymar's situation.
Nevertheless, the penalty Neymar ultimately faces will also depend on how his remarks are interpreted under the CBJD. A separate regulation addressing disrespect toward referees carries a lighter punishment of between one and six matches.
Ancelotti: Neymar Needs to Prove Fitness
Santos have just 10 domestic fixtures remaining before the Brasileirão enters a seven-week midseason hiatus during the World Cup. A suspension covering some—or potentially all—of those games could prove devastating for Neymar in what is already a difficult battle to earn a call-up.
Ancelotti must be persuaded to select the 34-year-old, who is aiming to participate in his fourth World Cup with the Seleção, and that becomes nearly impossible if he is restricted to a handful of Copa Sudamericana appearances.
"Neymar is not at 100%, and therefore he is not on the list," Ancelotti explained when justifying his decision to leave football's most expensive player ever out of the March international squad.
"Neymar is not at 100% of his capability. If he can be at 100% physically, he can be there. Neymar could be at the World Cup. Neymar has to keep working, playing, showcasing his qualities and maintaining a good physical condition."
Neymar's Brazil Legacy Left With Gaping Hole
Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer, having surpassed Pelé's record of 77 goals back in September 2023. He now boasts 79 goals across 128 international appearances, yet has not featured for the national side since shortly after breaking that record — his last outing came in October 2023.
Yet despite those historic figures, his claim to being the greatest Brazilian footballer of all time remains highly contested.
Neymar burst onto the scene at 18 and was even in consideration for the 2010 World Cup squad. By 2014, he had become the face of the national team as Brazil hosted the tournament for the first time since 1950, only to be ruled out at the quarterfinal stage through injury.
His peak came during his four seasons at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, when he was genuinely regarded as one of the finest players on the planet. However, following his world-record move to PSG, Neymar became increasingly plagued by injuries that have significantly curtailed his career.
Should this mark the conclusion of Neymar's international career, he would almost certainly retire without a major international trophy to his name. Beyond the raw statistics, that glaring absence from his Seleção record places him a tier below the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Roberto Carlos — and considerably further behind Pelé and the legendary players who claimed multiple World Cup titles between 1958 and 1970.