Neymar Jr. showed up to MetLife Stadium on June 13 for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup opener against Morocco. He just didn’t play.
The 34-year-old forward, sidelined by a calf injury sustained during training camp, watched from the touchline as his teammates took the field without the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer.
## A fourth World Cup, from the sideline
Manager Carlo Ancelotti named Neymar to Brazil’s final 26-man squad on May 18, a decision that raised eyebrows given the forward’s injury history. The selection was framed around his experience and improved fitness after returning to domestic play with Santos.
This marks Neymar’s fourth World Cup appearance since his debut in the 2014 tournament on home soil. His 79 international goals make him Brazil’s all-time leading scorer. His last cap for the national team came in October 2023, the same month he suffered a devastating ACL tear that kept him off the field for over a year.
