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According to reports from multiple media outlets, Neymar has suffered a grade 2 strain in his right calf, an injury that may cost him a spot in Brazil's final World Cup squad.
His status for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is still up in the air. After linking up with the national team, Neymar received a medical check, which confirmed the grade 2 right calf strain. He is expected to spend at least three weeks on the sidelines before resuming training.
As a result, he will definitely miss the opening group match against Morocco on June 13, but may recover in time for the second game against Haiti in Philadelphia on June 19. The Brazilian Football Confederation will announce its final decision one day prior to the tournament kick-off, on June 12.
Brazilian media UOL also reports that Chelsea forward João Pedro has cut his holiday short and maintained regular training, still holding out hope for a late call-up to the Brazil national team. The outlet states that although he failed to make Brazil's 26-man World Cup roster, João Pedro has been working hard to regain full fitness recently. He undergoes physical therapy and training every day to stay in good form, whether for Brazil, Chelsea or Barcelona, who regard him as one of their key transfer targets this summer.
João Pedro still has a theoretical chance to be added to the World Cup squad. This will depend on whether any team member withdraws due to injury within 24 hours before Brazil's opener against Morocco on June 13. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed today that Neymar has a grade 2 calf strain and will be out for two to three weeks. Working with his personal physiotherapist has become a regular part of João Pedro's daily training schedule. He shortened his holiday after the conclusion of Chelsea's season and his exclusion from the World Cup squad.
This season, João Pedro made 50 appearances for Chelsea and scored 20 goals, emerging as the club's top scorer of the 2025/26 campaign. He has won 8 caps for the Brazil national team, six of which came during Carlo Ancelotti's spell in charge. However, Ancelotti ultimately did not select him in the 26-man World Cup squad.
