Liam Duckstein
Neymar has suffered another injury setback at Santos, with medical tests confirming a 2-millimetre oedema in his right calf. The diagnosis arrives days after the 34-year-old was named in Brazil‘s squad for the 2026 World Cup, raising immediate questions about his readiness for the tournament in North America.
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Santos Confirm the Calf Problem
The club’s medical department made the announcement on Wednesday. The timing is far from ideal for Neymar, who had only recently returned to the Brazil setup after a long recovery from the serious knee injury he sustained in 2023. He has already missed Santos‘ Copa Sudamericana clash against San Lorenzo and is set to sit out the upcoming league fixture against Gremio. His target is to recover before reporting for Brazil duty on May 27, with both Santos and the CBF tracking his progress closely.
Medical Staff Back Recovery Timeline
Rodrigo Zogaib, head of Santos‘ medical team, stated the injury is minor and expressed confidence the forward will be available for international duty next week.
“Neymar has a minor calf injury, an oedema. But, according to our planning, his progress will allow him to be fit next week when he will join up with the national team.” — Rodrigo Zogaib
Selection Decision Under Scrutiny
The setback has sharpened scrutiny around the decision to include Neymar in Brazil‘s final squad. As reported by ESPN, the coaching staff had made clear that only fully fit players were wanted for selection. Internal concerns are said to focus on whether the calf issue could disrupt Neymar‘s early training schedule and his availability for Brazil‘s friendly against Panama on May 31 at the Maracana. He has been working with his personal medical team at Santos‘ Rei Pele Training Center to accelerate his return.
Reflecting on his call-up after a long absence from the Selecao, Neymar spoke to Santos TV.
“I cried for several hours, it wasn’t easy to get here. After my name was announced, you know it was worth overcoming everything, enduring the effort.” — Neymar
“My call-up wasn’t just for me, it was for everyone who is part of the process.” — Neymar
What Comes Next for Brazil and Santos
Neymar is also expected to miss Santos‘ final Copa Sudamericana group stage match against Deportivo Cuenca, a result that could see the club eliminated from the competition as they sit bottom of their pool. Brazil are scheduled to face Panama and Egypt in warm-up fixtures before entering Group C action against Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. Neymar will need a clean bill of health over the coming days to prove he belongs in that picture. Follow TipsGG for the latest updates on his fitness and Brazil‘s World Cup preparations.