Neymar's calf injury casts doubt on Brazil World Cup role

Brazil's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been clouded by uncertainty over the fitness of star forward Neymar. The 34-year-old missed the national team's first training session on Thursday to undergo medical scans on a calf injury, casting significant doubt on his availability for the tournament.

The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed Neymar was absent from the closed session at their Granja Comary training center and was instead referred to a private clinic in Teresopolis for imaging tests. The team's medical staff is now assessing the results to determine the severity of the injury. Officials stated no further information would be released until that evaluation is complete.

Neymar sustained the injury to his right calf while playing for his club, Santos, during a match against Coritiba on May 17. He subsequently missed Santos's final three matches of the season. Despite his absence from training, the player himself has publicly downplayed concerns. While watching a Santos match earlier this week, Neymar told reporters his calf was "right here, in one piece," and when asked if the injury would affect his World Cup, he responded, "What problem?"