Will Neymar return to Brazil national team? Coach Carlo Ancelotti receives upsetting update

Neymar’s return to the Brazil national team has been a top priority since joining Santos in early 2025, as he targets a full recovery after years of injury setbacks. But with just one day to go before the squad list is announced, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has received a concerning update on the star forward.

Hopes were high after Neymar managed to complete 90 minutes in seven straight Brasileirão matches since mid-July, scoring three goals during that stretch. However, a fresh setback has cast doubt on his availability for the national team.

According to Globo Esporte, Neymar suffered thigh swelling during Santos training on Thursday and has not returned to training since. He skipped both Friday and Saturday sessions, instead working only in the gym while complaining of pain even when walking.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Ancelotti is set to release Brazil’s squad list on Monday, August 25, and Santos has already contacted the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) medical staff to report the issue. While the Seleção could still call him up for its own evaluation, that scenario is considered unlikely.

Ancelotti’s squad will gather on September 1 at Granja Comary in Teresópolis to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers: against Chile on September 4 at the Maracanã and Bolivia on September 9 in El Alto. There is still a slim chance Neymar could feature for Santos on August 31 against Fluminense at Vila Belmiro, but only if medical evaluations clear him beforehand.

Neymar was already unavailable for Santos’ match this Sunday against Bahia due to suspension after picking up his third yellow card against Vasco da Gama. The injury adds further uncertainty to his timeline, fueling speculation about when he will finally return to the national team.

When could Neymar return to Brazil?

With this latest setback, Neymar looks increasingly likely to miss another call-up under Carlo Ancelotti, having already sat out the June international break. Now racing against time for the September fixtures, the question is whether the star forward will have another chance to rejoin the national team in 2025.

There are two more international windows after September: October 6–14 and November 10–18. According to ESPN Brazil, Brazil is expected to face Japan and another Asian side in October, before closing the year with a high-profile friendly against Real Madrid and an additional European opponent in November.

Neymar’s last appearance in the Brazil jersey came on October 17, 2023, when he tore his ACL against Uruguay. If he misses the September qualifiers, it will mark nearly two years since his last game for the Seleção, a sobering reality for the country’s all-time leading scorer.