With the World Cup 2026 just a week away from commencement, Brazil find themselves in a spot of bother, courtesy of their star name Neymar.

The Selecao have suffered a massive blow already with Neymar’s ongoing injury, and as per the latest developments, the winger is out of their next friendly against Egypt.

The 34-year-old will remain at Brazil’s training base in New Jersey and will not travel with the squad to Cleveland for Saturday’s match. Medical staff have decided to focus on a controlled recovery program involving intensive physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation in order to maximise his chances of being fit for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Neymar Latest Injury Update

Neymar suffered the right calf strain on May 17 during a domestic match for Santos. An MRI scan later confirmed a Grade 2 muscle injury, which typically requires two to three weeks of careful rehabilitation.

This latest setback adds to Neymar’s long injury history in recent years. The five-time Ballon d’Or nominee had recently returned to the national team setup under coach Carlo Ancelotti and was expected to play a key role in Brazil’s World Cup campaign on home soil. He remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 international goals.

Neymar to undergo Physiotherapy

Team officials have adopted a cautious approach. Neymar will stay in New Jersey to undergo targeted physiotherapy treatment rather than risk further damage through travel and match exertion. The primary goal is to ensure he is ready for Brazil’s opening World Cup match against Morocco on June 13.

Brazil played their first warm-up match without him on Tuesday, defeating Panama 6-2 at the Maracanã. The team will now face Egypt in what serves as the final rehearsal before the tournament, relying on stars such as Vinícius Jr. and Raphinha in Neymar’s absence. As the countdown to the World Cup opener continues, all attention is on Neymar’s recovery progress.