Neymar Jr
Three World Cups, three heartbreaks. A fractured vertebra in 2014. Belgium in 2018. Penalties to Croatia in 2022. Now 34 and rebuilt from an ACL tear, back at Santos where he started. Ancelotti named him anyway. Brazil's all-time leading scorer gets one last tournament where — God willing — the body holds and the moment is finally his.
Group Stage Schedule
Named in Ancelotti's 26-man squad — then ruled out of the Morocco opener with a grade 2 calf tear (May 2026, 2–3 weeks). Brazil should have him back for the rest of the group stage. At 34, Brazil's all-time top scorer is fighting his body one more time for a goodbye three campaigns of heartbreak never gave him.
Records in Play
Pelé scored 12 World Cup goals for Brazil. Neymar enters with 8 — four short of tying the king on Brazil's own record book.
79 international goals — already past Pelé in the overall count. Every Neymar goal in 2026 is uncharted Brazilian territory.
Three campaigns, three quarter- or semi-final exits. The most gifted Brazilian generation since the 70s has never won. This is almost certainly the last opportunity for this group.
Every Chapter
Three World Cups. Three heartbreaks. A broken back in 2014, Belgium in 2018, penalties against Croatia in 2022 (despite a stunner of his own in extra time). Now 34 and back at Santos after a grueling ACL recovery, Neymar was a surprise inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad — then ruled out of the Morocco opener two weeks before kickoff with a grade 2 calf tear. Brazil should have him back for the knockouts if they advance. The body has fought him at every World Cup. Brazil's all-time leading scorer is fighting it one more time for the goodbye three campaigns of heartbreak never let him have.
Neymar's 2026 World Cup, Answered
Is 2026 Neymar's last World Cup?
At 34 and rebuilt from an ACL injury, the 2026 World Cup is widely expected to be Neymar's last — the goodbye three previous campaigns of injury and heartbreak never gave him.
Is Neymar in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad?
Yes. Carlo Ancelotti named Neymar in the 26-man squad, though a grade 2 calf tear rules him out of the opener against Morocco. Brazil expect him back for the rest of the group stage.
How many World Cup goals does Neymar have?
Neymar has 8 World Cup goals across three tournaments — four short of Pelé's Brazil record of 12.
Will Neymar play in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, though not from the opening match. Carlo Ancelotti included Neymar in Brazil's squad, but a calf tear sidelines him for the opener against Morocco; Brazil expect him back during the group stage of what is likely his final World Cup at 34.
What group is Brazil in at the 2026 World Cup?
Brazil are in Group C with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. They open against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.