Lula jokes Neymar is the 'first player called up to do telework' as the Brazil star misses another World Cup match

The president's quip

During a hospital ceremony in Belo Horizonte on Friday, Lula asked a young boy to name the best player in the national team. The child answered without hesitation: "Neymar." Lula sighed and told the crowd the attacker was not even playing, then delivered his punchline.

“Neymar is the first player in the world called up to do telework.”

The remark drew laughter from the audience. Several Brazilian outlets noted that Lula had already joked about the World Cup the day before, saying he was thinking of recruiting Lionel Messi to boost Brazil's attack.

Neymar's fitness timeline

The 34-year-old forward suffered a right calf muscle injury a month ago while playing for Santos. Despite the setback, coach Carlo Ancelotti included him in the World Cup squad, surprising many observers.

Neymar was not on the team sheet for the opening match against Morocco on 13 June (1-1 draw) and watched from the substitutes' bench. He stayed at the Brazilian camp in New Jersey rather than travelling with teammates to Philadelphia for the Haiti fixture on 20 June. On Wednesday, 17 June, he trained on the pitch with the squad for the first time since his injury.

The all-time top scorer in Seleção history (79 goals) has not pulled on the national shirt since October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee ligament rupture and meniscus tear. Local media reports suggest he could be fit for the final group-stage game against Scotland.

Political subtext

Lula's barb carries an extra sting. Neymar was a vocal supporter of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro during the 2022 election campaign, appearing at rallies and praising his "family and freedoms" values. The two men have remained politically distant since Lula returned to office.

The exchange was not Lula's only football commentary at the event. Before the Neymar joke, he asked the same boy whether he had ever watched Marta, the six-time women's world player of the year. The child said no.