The question isn't just about whether a guy can still kick a ball. It’s about whether his body will let him. Honestly, if you look at the trajectory of Neymar Jr. over the last two years, it’s been a rollercoaster of "he’s back" and "wait, never mind." So, is Neymar playing in the 2026 World Cup? The short answer is: he’s doing everything humanly possible to make it happen, but it's a massive race against his own medical chart.
As of January 2026, Neymar is officially back in Brazil. He’s home. After a stint in Saudi Arabia that was, frankly, a bit of a disaster due to that brutal ACL tear, he returned to his boyhood club, Santos, in early 2025. Just this month—January 6, 2026, to be exact—he doubled down by extending his contract with Santos through the end of the year. This wasn’t just a sentimental move. It was a calculated business and fitness decision to stay in one place, under one medical team, to prove to Carlo Ancelotti that he’s not "finished."
The 2026 Goal: One Last Dance
Neymar has been very vocal about this. In a candid chat on the Podpah podcast, he basically confirmed that 2026 will be his "last mission." He'll be 34 when the tournament kicks off in June. That’s a perfectly fine age for a playmaker, but it's a "tough" 34 when you consider the miles on his legs and the surgical scars on his knees.
He’s currently chasing Pelé’s shadow and his own legacy. Despite being Brazil’s all-time leading male goalscorer with 79 goals, that World Cup trophy is the one thing missing from his cabinet. He’s desperate. He even told reporters recently that he’s going after this trophy "in any way I can."
Is Neymar playing in the 2026 World Cup? The Ancelotti Factor
Here is where it gets tricky. Brazil isn't the Neymar-dependent team it was in 2014 or 2018. Carlo Ancelotti, who took over the Seleção reins in 2025, hasn’t actually called Neymar up yet. Not once.
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Ancelotti is a "no-nonsense" kind of manager. He’s publicly stated that reputation doesn't get you a plane ticket to North America; fitness does. In November 2025, Ancelotti left him out of the qualifiers against Senegal and Japan, citing "physical issues." It’s a bit of a wake-up call for a guy who used to be the first name on the team sheet.
The internal vibe at the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) is one of cautious optimism. They know that a fit Neymar is still a top-five talent in the world. But they’ve also seen Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and the young sensation Estêvão step up. Neymar knows this, too. Reports from UOL Esporte suggest he’s even willing to accept a "luxury substitute" role—something we would have never imagined five years ago. He just wants to be there.
The Latest Medical Update (January 2026)
If you’re checking the news right now, you might have seen he just had another surgery. Don't panic. It was a minor arthroscopic procedure on his left knee in late December 2025 to fix a meniscus issue.
- Status: Recovering.
- Timeline: He started light gym work at the Santos facility on January 8.
- Expected Return: He’ll likely miss the start of the Paulista state championship but should be full-throttle by the time the Brazilian Serie A season kicks off later this spring.
His father recently revealed that Neymar actually considered retiring after this latest setback. The mental drain of rehab is real. But the "dream" of the sixth star for Brazil is what's keeping him in the gym.
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What Really Happened with the Al-Hilal Exit
A lot of people think he was "kicked out" of Saudi Arabia. That’s not quite it. Neymar and Al-Hilal agreed to part ways by mutual consent in early 2025. He only played seven games there. Seven. For a guy earning those kinds of wages, it was a nightmare for everyone involved.
He moved back to Santos because he needed "happiness." He needed the love of the Vila Belmiro crowd to fuel his recovery. Since returning to Brazil, he’s been productive when healthy—scoring 12 goals in 2025—but he’s still not that 90-minute explosive winger we saw at Barcelona. He’s evolved into more of a "Number 10," a classic playmaker who moves less but sees more.
The Competition for a Roster Spot
Brazil's squad for 2026 is deep. Like, scary deep. If Neymar wants to play, he’s competing with:
- Lucas Paquetá: The current creative engine under Ancelotti.
- Rodrygo: Who often plays that central role for the national team.
- Young Blood: Guys like Kaio Jorge (top scorer in the Brasileirão) and Endrick.
Ancelotti has a deadline. The provisional World Cup squads are usually due in May. That gives Neymar about four months of competitive football to prove he can stay on the pitch for more than three games in a row.
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How to Track His Progress
If you want to know if he'll actually make the cut, watch the March 2026 international window. If he’s not in that squad, the alarm bells should start ringing.
The 2026 World Cup draw has already placed Brazil in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. Their first game is June 13 in New Jersey. Whether Neymar is wearing the Number 10 jersey that day depends entirely on his left knee and his performance in the next 100 days.
Actionable Roadmap for Fans
Keep an eye on the Brazilian Serie A minutes. If he’s playing 70+ minutes consistently by April, he’s in. If he’s still doing individual training or "load management" by then, his World Cup dream is likely over. Follow the official Santos FC injury reports rather than tabloid rumors; they’ve been the most transparent about his recovery stages. Check the Brazil call-ups in late March—that is the "make or break" moment for his international career.