Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a blow after Neymar was absent from the national team’s initial training session while undergoing medical evaluations, fuelling doubts over his fitness and selection.

The 34-year-old forward, who is recuperating from a right calf injury, did not participate in the closed session at Granja Comary.

Instead, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) reported that he was taken to a private clinic in Teresópolis for imaging examinations.

In an official statement, the CBF confirmed that “no further information will be released until the Brazilian national team’s medical staff have completed their assessments,” as uncertainty grows over Neymar’s availability for forthcoming fixtures.

Brazil will conduct additional training sessions ahead of an international friendly against Panama at the Maracanã, a match already disrupted by several absentees owing to club commitments.

Key figures such as Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos and Gabriel Martinelli are unavailable as they prepare for the UEFA Champions League final involving Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Selecao are also scheduled to face Egypt and Morocco in their final warm-up fixtures as preparations accelerate towards their opening match at the 2026 tournament.

Although Neymar remains Brazil’s record goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 caps, head coach Carlo Ancelotti has emphasised that selection will be determined solely by fitness and form rather than reputation.

The squad now await a decisive medical update that will influence whether their leading attacker will be named in the final World Cup roster.