With just a few months to go before the start of the next FIFA World Cup, several names are in doubt, including that of Neymar Jr.
The Brazilian star has expressed his desire to play in another tournament, but his presence remains uncertain due to his long history of injuries and his current recovery process, which could lead him to make a drastic decision.
Will Neymar play in the 2026 World Cup?
After recently undergoing knee surgery on December 22, 2025, to treat a medial meniscus injury, the Santos player is doing everything possible to be in optimal condition for the World Cup.
However, at this point, the main motivation in Neymar’s professional career is no longer to try his luck with other teams, million-dollar contract renewals, or new projects in emerging leagues. Instead, his goal is to win a World Cup and become world champion with his country.
For this reason, the former PSG player is reportedly considering hanging up his boots and retiring from soccer if he is not included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the upcoming World Cup, according to Sports Illustrated.
The truth is that, in addition to his recovery from surgery, Ney has not played for the Brazilian national team since October 2023, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee against Uruguay in a qualifying match at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo.
This lack of competitive rhythm, coupled with the fact that he will turn 34 before the World Cup, could mean that the former Real Madrid coach will not consider him.
Ancelotti has previously warned that the final list has not been decided, but that Neymar will go to the World Cup “if he is 100% physically fit, not 80%.”
For this reason, every training session, therapy session, rehabilitation session, and every personal sacrifice has a single goal: the 2026 World Cup. This clearly represents intense media pressure, as the decision on whether or not Neymar’s name appears on the list of players called up could be decisive in extending the career of one of the greatest talents in history or putting an end to it.
As if that weren’t enough, Brazil is a giant in World Cup terms: it has been crowned champion five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002) and was runner-up twice (1950 and 1998).
In this edition, Brazil will be in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. They will make their debut against Morocco on Saturday, June 13, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. They will then face Haiti on Friday, June 19, at Philadelphia’s Soldier Field, and on Wednesday, June 24, they will take on Scotland at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Meanwhile, only time will tell if Neymar will wear Brazil’s colors in the tournament and if we will continue to enjoy his play for at least a few more months.
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