“Neymar in trouble: Secret tests worry the Brazilian National Team.”

The first day of preparation for the Brazilian national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup was marked by a climate of tension and mystery that left fans and experts on high alert. Neymar, the team’s star and owner of the number 10 jersey, was removed from training at Granja Comary and rushed to the Diagnostic Center in Teresópolis for urgent examinations due to an injury to his right leg.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) set up a true “secret operation” to ensure total confidentiality regarding the situation. The clinic was closed to the public at 5 PM, with all professionals required to sign confidentiality agreements to prevent any leaks of the medical report. For about an hour, Neymar was accompanied by the national team’s doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, the national teams manager, Cícero Souza, and supervisor Sérgio Dimas, in a session that visibly shook the forward.

Upon leaving, Neymar was transported lying down in the back of the van, an image that did not go unnoticed and reinforces the seriousness of the situation. This is not the first time a Brazilian star has arrived at the World Cup injured—names like Zico and Romário have faced this drama, with Romário controversially cut from the 1998 World Cup precisely due to an injury in the same area of his leg.

Although there is still no official confirmation that Neymar may leave the national team call-up, the incident has exposed a serious communication failure between the CBF and Santos, the club that initially assured that the player was suffering from only a “simple edema” and would be fit for training. The discomfort within the technical and medical department of the national team is evident, as the tests conducted in Teresópolis indicated a more concerning condition than that reported by the club.

With the detailed MRI results in hand, the medical team and technical committee are carefully assessing the immediate future of the Brazilian star. The plan is to preserve Neymar, which means he is likely to miss the friendly matches against Panama and, very likely, against Egypt the following week.

It is important to remember that the World Cup regulations require the final list of players to be submitted by June 1. After this date, substitutions will only be allowed for duly certified reasons of illness or serious injury. Neymar’s situation, therefore, keeps Brazil in suspense at a crucial time as the team prepares for the biggest event in world football. The nation is awaiting updates, while concern grows over the physical condition of its greatest icon.

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).