WWith only a few months left until the start of the next FIFA World Cup, several names have been suspected, including that of Neymar Jr.
The Brazilian star has expressed a desire to play in another tournament, but due to his long injury history and current recovery process, his participation remains uncertain and could lead to a drastic decision.
Will Neymar play in the 2026 World Cup?
Having just undergone knee surgery to treat a torn medial meniscus on December 22, 2025, the Santos player is doing everything he can to be in optimal condition for the World Cup.
But for now, Neymar’s main motivation in his professional career is no longer trying his luck with another team, a $1 million contract extension, or a new project in an emerging league. Instead, his goal is to win the World Cup and become world champions with his country.
As a result, Sports Illustrated reports that the former PSG player is considering hanging up his shoes and retiring from football if he is not selected for Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.
The truth is that in addition to recovering from surgery, Ney has not played for the Brazilian national team since October 2023, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in a qualifying match against Uruguay at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo.
This lack of competitive rhythm, combined with the fact that he will turn 34 before the World Cup, could mean that the former Real Madrid manager does not consider him.
Ancelotti has previously warned that Neymar will play at the World Cup “if he is 100% fit, not 80%”, although the final list has not yet been decided.
Therefore, every training session, therapy session, rehabilitation session and every personal sacrifice has one goal: the 2026 World Cup. This clearly represents intense media pressure, as the decision on whether Neymar’s name appears on the call-up list could have a decisive impact on extending or ending the career of one of the greatest talents in history.
As if that wasn’t enough, Brazil is a giant from a World Cup perspective. He has won five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002) and been runner-up twice (1950 and 1998).
For this tournament, Brazil will be placed in Group C along with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. They will make their debut against Morocco on Saturday, June 13th at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. They will then face Haiti at Soldier Field in Philadelphia on Friday, June 19th, and Scotland at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday, June 24th.
Meanwhile, only time will tell whether Neymar will wear Brazil colors in the tournament and whether we can continue to enjoy his game for at least a few more months.
