Neymar Suffers Muscle Edema and Is in Doubt for Brazil

• Neymar Suffers Muscle Edema and Is in Doubt for Brazil
• Neymar Worries Brazil Ahead of Matches With Chile and Bolivia
• Ancelotti Could Leave Neymar Out Due to Injury

An Untimely Injury

Santos confirmed this Sunday that Neymar has a muscle edema in his right thigh, just as Carlo Ancelotti is preparing to announce the squad for Brazil’s last two South American qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup.

The 33-year-old Brazilian will miss at least one week of activity, making him a serious doubt for Brazil’s games against Chile and Bolivia.

This was reported by ESPN.

Neymar to Miss Santos Match

The player felt discomfort during training and has already been ruled out of Santos’ match against Bahia in the Brazilian Championship.

In this case, he was also due to serve a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.

According to club sources, Neymar could be available again on August 31, when Santos face Fluminense.

This was also highlighted by ESPN.

Ancelotti’s Challenge With the National Team

❌🇧🇷 NEYMAR INJURED DURING HIS PRESENTATION AT SANTOS

👉 The Brazilian tripped during the event and TORE his CRUCIATE LIGAMENTS

ℹ️ He will be out for 7 months pic.twitter.com/03l6tYXZMy

— ENBAJA (@enbajafutbol) January 31, 2025

Carlo Ancelotti took charge of the Brazilian national team in mid-2025 after leaving Real Madrid.

On Monday, he will announce his squad for the final two qualifiers: September 4 in Rio de Janeiro against Chile, and September 9 in El Alto, a city near La Paz, where Brazil will face Bolivia.

Neymar’s presence has become the big question mark on the list, since the forward has not played for the national team since October 2023 due to a string of injuries that have limited his continuity over the last two years.

Although Brazil has already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, expectations for Neymar’s return are high, especially under the new project led by the Italian coach.

Between Physical Doubts and an Irregular Present

In recent weeks, Neymar had shown signs of recovery, displaying flashes of his talent in some matches with Santos.

However, the 6–0 defeat against Vasco da Gama in the Brazilian Championship made clear that neither his return nor his leadership have been enough to prevent the team from hovering near the relegation zone.

This new setback adds to a long list of physical problems that have plagued the former Barcelona and PSG player since 2023.

It raises uncertainty about his immediate future both with his club and the national team. Although expectations for his return to the “Canarinha” were high, the muscle edema could delay that comeback.

Meanwhile, Brazil will face its matches with the reassurance of having already secured its World Cup spot, unlike rivals Chile—already eliminated—and Bolivia, still fighting for a playoff berth.

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