Neymar Injury Update Provided by Brazil's Carlo Ancelotti, Latest Timeline Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Brazilian national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed optimism regarding Neymar's status ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next month.

According to world football insider Fabrizio Romano, Ancelotti suggested Saturday that he doesn't expect Neymar to miss much, if any, time in the World Cup, saying, "We expect Neymar to be back in the first game vs Morocco or eventually on the following game. We will not change anyone—the chosen players are these and I don't change plans. [All] these 26 will play the World Cup."

Per ESPN's Adriana Garcia, Neymar suffered a calf injury while playing for Santos on May 17, and upon reporting to Brazil's training camp on Wednesday, he was diagnosed with a grade 2 muscle strain in his right calf.

The injury is expected to keep him out for at least two weeks, and Garcia reported that he was considered doubtful for Brazil's World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13, but Ancelotti's comments suggest it is still possible Neymar could see action in that contest.

Even if Neymar is able to play against Morocco, he will have to do so without a tuneup, as he is expected to miss Brazil's friendlies against Panama on Sunday and Egypt on June 6.

The 34-year-old Neymar is the all-time leading scorer for the national team with 79 goals in 128 appearances.

However, Neymar has not actually played for Brazil since October 2023 when he tore his ACL during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.

Neymar has since worked his way back from that injury, but his production has been somewhat modest compared to earlier in his career.

He scored 11 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions for Santos last year, and he has scored six times in 15 matches so far this season.

Still, Neymar is an important piece for a Brazilian team that has gotten knocked out in the quarterfinals at each of the past two World Cups and four of the past five.

Although Brazil has won the World Cup a record five times, it has not done so since 2002, and its best finish since then was fourth in 2014.

At the most recent World Cup in 2022, Morocco actually made it further than Brazil, finishing an all-time best fourth.

That suggests Brazil's 2026 World Cup opener could be a massive challenge with or without Neymar.

If Neymar is not back in time for that match, Ancelotti indicated that he will be back in action by the time Brazil faces Haiti in the second match of group play on June 19.