Brazil Captain Marquinhos Drops Cryptic Hint on Neymar’s 2026 World Cup Future: What Could Change Everything?

Neymar’s name has been buzzing all around lately, but not for the reasons fans would hope. A fresh injury has thrown a massive question mark over his tenure at Santos—yes, once again. Yet, amid the buzz and sidelined sidelines, what’s truly igniting chatter is the tantalizing possibility of him making a comeback to the Brazil national squad in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Marquinhos, Neymar’s long-time teammate and protector in defense, has weighed in, calling him a “great friend” and “real talent,” though with a reality check—comebacks like these are never a quick flick of a switch. Neymar’s body has been no stranger to setbacks, and that pesky knee injury now threatens his role in crucial Serie A battles where Santos teeters on the brink of relegation. Still, hope flickers as Marquinhos holds onto the belief that if Neymar can find his rhythm and get back in top physical form, there’s no reason he can’t lace up for Brazil again. The countdown to the World Cup is ticking, and with some key voices backing him, the question remains—will Neymar seize the chance or watch from the sidelines once more? LEARN MORE

Neymar has been at the center of attention in recent days following the new injury he suffered, which now casts doubt on his future with Santos. But beyond that, it is his potential return to the Brazil national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup that has generated the most speculation — something Marquinhos addressed recently.

“Always!” responded the Paris Saint-Germain player in an interview with RMC when asked if he would welcome Neymar back to the Brazil national team. “He’s a great friend, a real talent,” said the defender, who was his teammate for years at both club and international level.

However, Marquinhos made it clear that such a return cannot happen overnight. “It depends on many things,” the PSG star acknowledged. “It depends on how he is, if he’s doing well, if he’s in shape, if physically he’s found his rhythm again. I hope he gets back to his best.”

Neymar has struggled recently to find consistency. Injuries have followed him for years and, since his return to Santos at the beginning of 2025, that has not changed. In fact, the 33-year-old forward is currently dealing with a knee injury that puts his availability in doubt for the decisive matches in Serie A, where Santos are at serious risk of relegation.

Neymar suffered a knee injury during his last game with Brazil, in 2023.

“If he’s back in form physically and feeling good, why not?” Marquinhos said in the same interview regarding Neymar’s outlook. “I really hope he can return to top form and make it to the World Cup.”

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Other stars weigh in on Neymar

Marquinhos is not the first Brazil icon to comment on a potential Neymar return to the national team. A few weeks ago, Casemiro discussed the same possibility. “If he’s physically and mentally fit, he’s without a doubt the best,” the midfielder said in an interview with GE. “If he’s in good shape, he’ll be very important for us because he’s a world-class player… He’s indispensable for any national team.”

Carlo Ancelotti has also spoken repeatedly about the issue, even outlining a timeline for Neymar’s World Cup hopes. “He is on the list of players who can go to the World Cup,” the coach admitted. “He now has six months to make the final list.”

When was Neymar’s last match with Brazil?

Neymar’s recurring injuries have not only prevented him from playing regularly for Santos — and previously for Al Hilal and Paris Saint-Germain — but have also kept him out of the Brazil national team for an extended period, despite being the nation’s all-time leading scorer.

The last time Neymar played a match for Brazil was on October 18, 2023, in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. That day, the forward started but had to be substituted in the 45th minute after suffering a serious knee injury that sidelined him for more than a year.

In the two years since that match, Brazil have had three different head coaches — Fernando Diniz, Dorival Junior, and Carlo Ancelotti — and none of them have fielded Neymar in either an official or friendly match. With just over six months until the next World Cup, the forward is racing against time in pursuit of another opportunity.