Brazil President Lula mocks Neymar's World Cup absence

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sparked a wave of debate on social media after he jokingly said star forward Neymar is the first player ever to be called up to the national team to train from home. Lula made the remark during a hospital visit in Belo Horizonte as the 2026 World Cup, being staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, progressed.

Neymar has missed Brazil’s opening 1‑1 draw with Morocco and is confirmed absent for the second‑round group match against Haiti because of a recent muscle injury. The president’s sarcastic comments about the player’s remote training and the possibility of AI‑chosen line‑ups drew strong reactions, reflecting the tense relationship between Lula and the football star, who previously backed former President Jair Bolsonaro. Neymar recently joined training sessions with his club Al‑Hilal in Saudi Arabia, raising hopes of a possible return later in the tournament.