Will Neymar Play at the 2026 World Cup?

Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Pelé’s former record in 2023.

Neymar’s World Cup hopes are up in the air. | IMAGO/Sports Press Photos

The 2026 World Cup is set to be historic for a number of reasons.

Not only will it be the largest edition of the tournament ever—with a record 48 teams—and the first to be hosted across three countries, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, but it will also mark the end of an era for several of the game’s modern greats.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić are all expected to make their final appearances on the global stage with Argentina, Portugal and Croatia respectively—bringing the curtain down on three legendary international careers.

Another star expected to play at his last World Cup is Neymar, the fourth of his illustrious career, although an injury blow could delay his arrival to this summer’s tournament.

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Will Neymar Play at the 2026 World Cup?

Neymar will write another chapter with Brazil. pic.twitter.com/vEj48f54zu

— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) May 18, 2026

Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals and one of the most gifted players the country has ever produced; however, his place at the 2026 World Cup was far from certain and Neymar was overcome with emotion to learn he had made the cut.

He has seemingly done enough in the past few months with boyhood club Santos to prove his worth, after a difficult spell on the pitch.

Now 34, the forward has been plagued by injuries in recent years. He has not featured for Brazil since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in October 2023 and was heartbreakingly excluded from Ancelotti’s most recent March international window due to a lack of fitness from a knee injury last December.

A calf injury suffered on the eve of the tournament brought fresh concerns about his involvement but, while Neymar is expected to miss Brazil’s opening fixture against Morocco on June 13, he should be fit enough to play beyond that.

“Neymar will be an important player for us at the World Cup,” Ancelotti said after the announcement, per Fabrizio Romano. “We spent the entire year analyzing Neymar. We realized that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition.”

Competition for minutes in Brazil’s attack will be fierce, though, even with Chelsea’s Estêvão and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo both missing out due to injury.

Real Madrid and Barcelona powerhouse forwards Vinicius Junior and Raphinha are expected to star up top for El Seleção alongside the likes of Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha, leaving Neymar Jr likely to fight for scraps.

“The dream lives on,” Neymar insisted earlier this year after missing out on the March window, and he was right.

Brazil kicks off its World Cup campaign in Group C, with matches against Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. The South American powerhouse is expected to finish atop its group before the knockout stage awaits.

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