Neymar eyes fourth World Cup appearance in 2026

Brazilian football star Neymar has set his sights on a fourth World Cup appearance in 2026, following a challenging recovery from a severe ACL injury.

 

The 32-year-old forward, who currently plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, is determined to return to peak form and represent Brazil in the upcoming global tournament in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Neymar's journey to recovery has been long and difficult. After suffering a serious ACL injury to his left knee in October 2023, he has faced setbacks in his bid to regain full fitness.

The injury forced him to the sidelines for more than a year, and he is yet to reach his previous level of performance.

Despite these challenges, Neymar is resolute in his ambition to make it to the 2026 World Cup.

If he manages to return to his best before the tournament, he would become the first Brazilian to play in four World Cups, having represented his country in Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022.

In an interview with RMC Sports, Neymar expressed his desire to continue competing at the highest level: "The World Cup is obviously the objective for all players. I have played in three World Cups, but I want to be at a fourth. I have to focus on that, prepare well here, and have that medium-term goal after getting back in shape with my club, Al Hilal," he said.

Neymar will be 34 years old when the 2026 World Cup begins, making this tournament a potential final chance for him to win the prestigious title.

Having reached the semifinals in 2014 and suffered quarterfinal exits in 2018 and 2022, the 2026 competition could offer Neymar one last opportunity to fulfil his dream of lifting the World Cup trophy.

In addition to his World Cup ambitions, Neymar is keen to return to action with Al Hilal. The Brazilian star is working hard to recover and is eager to participate in the 2025 Club World Cup, a key competition for his club.

"I want to have a good season with Al Hilal. I am recovering from a very serious injury. I still have some time to return to my level and show why I am here. My priority is to recover well, develop physically, and get back to playing. I would like to participate in the Club World Cup with Al Hilal in 2025 because it is something very important for the club," Neymar added.