This prediction market addresses whether Brazilian soccer star Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior will participate as a player in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The market resolves based on whether he appears on the field for Brazil in any official match during the tournament, including group stage matches, knockout rounds, or any associated extra time or penalty shootouts. The primary resolution source is FIFA's official records and team sheets. Neymar's potential involvement is a major topic in global soccer due to his status as one of the sport's most recognizable talents and his history with both exceptional performance and significant injuries. His participation would mark his fourth World Cup appearance, a rare achievement for an outfield player. The question gained urgency following his transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal in 2023 and a subsequent serious knee injury in October 2023 that required surgery. His age is also a factor; he will be 34 years old when the 2026 tournament begins, an age where many elite attackers have already retired from international duty. Interest in this market comes from soccer fans, sports bettors, and analysts tracking the career trajectory of a player who has been a central figure in Brazilian soccer for over a decade. The outcome influences perceptions of Brazil's chances in the tournament, commercial and sponsorship considerations, and Neymar's legacy.

Historical Context

Neymar's World Cup history is a mix of promise and disappointment, framed by injury. He made his World Cup debut in 2014 on home soil, scoring four goals before a fractured vertebra in the quarterfinals against Colombia ruled him out of Brazil's infamous 7-1 semifinal loss to Germany. In 2018, he returned but was less effective as Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Belgium. His most recent appearance was in 2022 in Qatar. He equaled Pelé's Brazilian men's scoring record with a goal against Croatia in the quarterfinals, but Brazil was eliminated on penalties, and Neymar missed his scheduled penalty in the shootout. The 2026 tournament would represent a chance for redemption in what would almost certainly be his final World Cup. Historically, few Brazilian outfield players have featured in four World Cups. Only legends like Pelé, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and Ronaldo have achieved this, placing Neymar in an elite group if he participates. His injury in October 2023, a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee, is the most severe of his career and mirrors the tournament-ending back injury from 2014, raising questions about his physical durability for high-level international play at age 34.

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