World Cup 2026: Injured Neymar is 'Working Remotely,' Jests President Lula

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva quipped that star player Neymar is effectively doing "remote work" at the World Cup, highlighting the forward's absence from the field due to injury. Neymar, 34, has not yet played in the tournament as he recovers from a calf injury.

"Neymar? He's not even playing!" Lula exclaimed when a young boy mentioned the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona forward's name. "Neymar is the first player in the world called up (to the national team) to do remote work," the president added during a ceremony at a hospital in Belo Horizonte.

The veteran forward is sidelined for Friday's match against Haiti, which Brazil is playing in Philadelphia. He remained at the team's base in New Jersey. During Brazil's disappointing opening match against Morocco on June 13, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Neymar was not on the team sheet but watched from the bench with his teammates.

Neymar, who is the Selecao's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, trained on the field with his teammates for the first time on Wednesday. He suffered a muscle injury in his right calf with his club Santos a month ago. The player has not worn the Brazil jersey since October 2023, when he sustained a severe knee injury.

Earlier in the week, Lula had also humorously commented on the World Cup, suggesting he might "recruit" Argentine star Lionel Messi to improve Brazil's offensive performance.