Neymar Ruled Out of Brazils World Cup Qualifiers

Brazil star Neymar has been sidelined from the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile on September 4 in Rio and Bolivia on September 9 in La Paz. The 33-year-old Santos forward, out since his ACL rupture in October 2023, suffered another hamstring strain last week. Coach Carlo Ancelotti stressed Neymar must regain full fitness before returning.

After the latest injury setback, Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s squad for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia. The 33 year old Santos forward has struggled with fitness ever since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023. Although he resumed light training earlier this year, recurring muscular problems have continued to derail his comeback.

Most recently, Neymar picked up a hamstring strain during a training session last Thursday, forcing Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti to leave him out of the squad. Speaking at a press conference, Ancelotti emphasized that Neymar’s absence is purely due to physical concerns. He noted that the coaching staff and fans are well aware of Neymar’s quality, but insisted that the forward must return to full fitness before he can contribute effectively to the national team.

Brazil, who have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, will host Chile in Rio de Janeiro on September 4 before traveling to La Paz to face Bolivia on September 9. Neymar’s prolonged absence raises further concerns about his ability to regain peak form ahead of the tournament, with Brazil still heavily reliant on his creativity and experience.