Neymar will not recover in time for Brazil's upcoming friendly matches, according to the latest reports from the national team camp. The Santos forward is still dealing with a calf injury and has not returned to full training with Carlo Ancelotti's squad ahead of the World Cup.

The injury happened during Neymar's recent match in the Brazilian League. He initially suffered discomfort in his calf during a match earlier this month, and further medical examinations later confirmed a grade-two muscle injury with a partial tear.

Santos had hoped the problem was minor at first, but the recovery process has taken longer than expected. While there were concerns about his long-term fitness, many Brazil fans were happy when Ancelotti included Neymar in the squad.

For now, the former Barcelona and PSG star is confirmed to be out of the pre-tournament friendlies and is highly doubtful for Brazil's first Group C match against Morocco.

Deadline Set for Neymar

As per reports in Brazil, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has now given Neymar a deadline to prove his fitness before making a final decision on his World Cup place.

FIFA regulations state that all teams must submit their final 2026 World Cup squads by June 1, meaning Brazil will wait until the final days before deciding whether Neymar will be included.

While Brazil do not currently plan to remove Neymar from the final 26-man squad, the medical staff are closely monitoring his recovery.

If the 34-year-old does not recover in time, Brazil could replace him with another player from the provisional squad while Neymar continues his treatment.

Chelsea forward João Pedro, whose omission surprised many fans, and Estevão are seen as possible replacements if that happens.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 4:27 PM.