Neymar Junior was seen watching Brazil’s friendly match against Panama from the substitutes’ bench at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on 31 May 2026. Coach Carlo Ancelotti believes the star forward will recover in time for the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed confidence that Neymar Junior will make a full recovery and rejoin collective training sessions ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The 34-year-old veteran striker has yet to appear in group training with the Selecao squad just five days before the opening of the major tournament in North America.

Neymar Junior is still undergoing rehabilitation for a calf injury he sustained shortly before Brazil’s pre-tournament training camp began.

He is scheduled to undergo a medical scan on Monday, 8 June 2026, local time.

The outcome of the examination will determine whether he can immediately rejoin team training or continue with his individual recovery program.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was already spotted on the bench during the Selecao’s friendly match against Panama in Rio de Janeiro on 31 June 2026.

Fans in Brazil will have to wait a bit longer to see their idol back on the pitch, even just for training sessions.

However, Carlo Ancelotti is convinced that Neymar is on the right path toward full recovery.

The Italian coach remains optimistic that the 2011 FIFA Puskas Award winner will soon be fit and ready to represent the national team.

“He’s been moving well,” said Don Carlo, as quoted by BolaSport.com from Voetbal International.

“He will undergo an MRI scan after this weekend.”

“If everything goes smoothly, he’ll be able to train with the team again next week,” added the coach, who holds the record for the most UEFA Champions League titles.

After thrashing Panama 6-2, the Selecao have just one more warm-up match before the 2026 World Cup.

They are set to face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in Ohio, United States, on Saturday, 6 June 2026 (Sunday morning local time in Indonesia).

The match, however, seems too soon for Neymar to make his comeback.

He still has a week to regain full fitness ahead of Brazil’s Group C opener in the 2026 World Cup.

The Selecao will kick off their campaign against African powerhouse Morocco at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, 13 June 2026.

Brazil will then take on Haiti on 19 June 2026 and Scotland on 24 June 2026.

Due to a series of injuries, Neymar da Silva Santos Junior has been sidelined from the national team for nearly three years.

His last appearance for Brazil came during the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Uruguay on 18 October 2023.

This year, the Samba team are determined to end their long title drought at the World Cup.

Brazil remains the most successful nation in World Cup history with five titles, but they haven’t lifted the trophy since 2002.