Brazil superstar Neymar could miss the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after failing to return to full training, according to reports.
The 34-year-old forward remains absent from team training, raising concerns about his availability as Brazil prepare for their opening fixture.
Reports indicate that Neymar’s recovery has become more complicated, leaving his participation in the first game of the tournament uncertain.
Neymar’s fitness has been a major talking point for Brazil ahead of the World Cup. The experienced attacker remains one of the country’s biggest names and has played a key role for the national team for more than a decade.
However, injuries have affected the later stages of his career. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay in 2023, which kept him out for several months.
Although Neymar returned to action and continued his career, maintaining fitness has remained a challenge. Brazil’s coaching staff have been carefully managing his workload as they look to have him available for the biggest moments of the tournament.
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Missing the first World Cup match would be a major disappointment for Neymar, who has been hoping to lead Brazil’s attack in what could be one of his final appearances at football’s biggest competition.
Despite his injury struggles, Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer and one of the most influential players of his generation. His creativity, passing ability and experience make him an important figure in the squad.
Brazil will continue to monitor his condition before making a final decision on his involvement. The team has other attacking options available, but Neymar’s presence would provide valuable experience as Brazil aim to compete for a sixth World Cup title.
