Forty-eight hours after his name was read out at the Museu do Amanhã, Neymar’s calf reminded Brazilian football why his World Cup place has been a debate for the past year. The 34-year-old missed Santos’s 2-2 Copa Sudamericana draw against San Lorenzo at the Vila Belmiro on Thursday, May 21, 2026, after scans confirmed an edema in his right calf two days after Carlo Ancelotti named him in Brazil’s 26-man squad. Reports out of Rio said the CBF and Santos disagree on the severity, with his appearances in the May 31 friendly against Panama and the June 6 game against Egypt in doubt and a final assessment scheduled for May 27. Elsewhere on Sudamericana matchday five, River Plate reached the Round of 16 after a 1-1 home draw against RB Bragantino at the Monumental, fielding an alternative XI ahead of Sunday’s Torneo Apertura final. In the NBA, the Knicks beat the Cavaliers 109-93 at Madison Square Garden to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, Josh Hart scoring a playoff career-high 26 points. As always, The Rio Times delivers comprehensive Latin America coverage.
Today’s Headlines May 21, 2026
Brazil WC: Neymar fitness
Edema
Right calf; May 27 assessment
