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Brazilian football icon Neymar has encountered yet another injury blow while turning out for Santos, just days after being named in the national squad for the 2026 World Cup. The forward has been diagnosed with a calf issue, raising immediate concerns about his fitness for the tournament to be held in North America.

Santos confirm Neymar’s calf problem

Santos have officially confirmed that Neymar is recovering from a mild calf injury after scans detected a 2-millimetre oedema in his right leg. The club’s medical department shared the update on Wednesday. The timing is particularly unfortunate for the 34-year-old attacker, who only recently returned to the Brazil national team after a lengthy rehabilitation from a serious knee injury sustained in 2023.

Neymar has already been ruled out of Santos’ Copa Sudamericana encounter with San Lorenzo and is also set to miss their upcoming domestic league clash against Gremio. The forward is now in a race against time to regain full fitness before joining Brazil’s training camp on May 27. Both Santos and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) are keeping a close watch on his recovery.

Santos optimistic about Neymar’s recovery

Rodrigo Zogaib, the head of Santos’ medical department, reassured supporters that the injury is not serious and expressed confidence that Neymar will be ready to link up with the national team as scheduled.

"Neymar has a small calf injury, an oedema," Zogaib told ge. "But according to our recovery plan, his progress should enable him to be fit next week, when he is expected to join the national squad."

Fresh debate over Ancelotti’s selection decision

The injury has intensified scrutiny of coach Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include Neymar in Brazil’s final World Cup squad. According to ESPN, the Italian coach had made it clear that only fully fit players would be considered for selection. Members of the coaching staff are reportedly worried that the current setback might hinder Neymar’s early training sessions and affect his availability for Brazil’s friendly against Panama on May 31 at the Maracana Stadium. Neymar has been training with his personal medical staff at Santos’ Rei Pele Training Center in a bid to accelerate his recovery process.

Speaking to Santos TV about his emotional response to the call-up after a long absence from the national side, Neymar said, "I cried for several hours; it wasn’t easy getting back here. After hearing my name announced, I realised that all the effort and sacrifices were worth it."

The star forward also expressed gratitude to those who assisted in his rehabilitation, adding, "This call-up isn’t just for me, but for everyone who played a part in my recovery journey."

Brazil await Neymar’s fitness report ahead of upcoming fixtures

Neymar is also expected to miss Santos’ final Copa Sudamericana group game against Deportivo Cuenca. The result could prove costly, as Santos currently sit at the bottom of their group and face possible elimination.

Meanwhile, Brazil are preparing to take on Panama and Egypt in friendly matches before beginning their Group C campaign against Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. Neymar will be hoping to recover fully and avoid further setbacks as he looks to reassert himself as a vital player for the Selecao on the world stage.