The biggest football tournament on the planet kicks off June 11, and the injury gods have been absolutely ruthless. Stars have gone down. Dreams have been crushed. Physio rooms across the world have been working overtime — and the casualty list heading into this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico is a long, painful one.
But there’s drama on both sides of the ledger. Some have been heartbreakingly ruled out. Others have made miraculous comebacks. And then there’s one man — 34 years old, two ACL recoveries deep — who’s been handed the most unlikely lifeline in world football.
Here’s your complete rundown of who’s racing to make it, who’s confirmed out, and the comeback story nobody saw coming.
RACING TO RECOVER (But Should Be Fine)
Lamine Yamal — Spain Spain’s 18-year-old superstar has had a nerve-shredding few weeks. Yamal picked up a left hamstring injury during La Liga on April 22 and sat out Spain’s warm-up against Iraq on June 4. But Spain boss Luis de la Fuente remains calm. “If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15,” he said. No surgery needed, a moderate training plan is in place, and the consensus is he’ll feature later in the group stage even if he misses the Cape Verde opener. Breathe, Spain fans. The kid should be fine.
Lionel Messi — Argentina The biggest scare of them all. Messi clutched his left hamstring and limped off for Inter Miami in May, sending an entire football-watching world into collective meltdown. The 38-year-old is in Argentina’s squad and expected to be available for their June 16 opener against Algeria, with the federation confirming he is “making good progress.” But at 38, every twinge demands respect — and the world will be watching every warm-up session between now and kickoff.
DEFINITELY OUT
Estêvão — Brazil ❌ This one stings. Chelsea’s 18-year-old sensation pulled up with a hamstring injury against Manchester United in April and broke down in tears on the pitch. What initially seemed like a short-term setback turned out to be a grade four hamstring tear — season-ending and World Cup-ending. He returned to Palmeiras, his former club in Brazil, for treatment. He had scored five goals in his first 11 caps and was considered a certain starter under Ancelotti. An absolute heartbreak for one of football’s most exciting young talents.
Rodrygo — Brazil ❌ As if losing Estêvão wasn’t enough. Rodrygo suffered a torn ACL and right meniscus playing for Real Madrid in March and is expected to be out until late 2026. Two of Brazil’s most electric attackers gone before a ball is kicked in North America.
Hugo Ekitike — France ❌ Liverpool’s breakout star was having a sensational debut season — scoring in two consecutive France international breaks and firmly in Deschamps’ plans. Then came a devastating Achilles rupture against PSG at Anfield in April. He left on a stretcher, in tears. Deschamps confirmed he will miss the World Cup and will likely be sidelined until late 2026. At just 22, the timing couldn’t be crueller.
Serge Gnabry — Germany ❌ Germany lose one of their most versatile weapons after Gnabry tore his adductor muscle at Bayern Munich in mid-April. The wideman was expected to play a significant role for Julian Nagelsmann’s side, and his absence leaves a hole that won’t be easy to fill.
Xavi Simons — Netherlands ❌ The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder tore his ACL against Wolves in the Premier League, ending what would have been his second World Cup. At just 23, devastatingly timed. Holland lose a huge creative outlet in midfield.
Kaoru Mitoma — Japan ❌ Brighton’s electrifying winger — the man who scored the winner against England in March — picked up a hamstring injury and was ruled out by Japan’s medical staff who determined he wouldn’t recover in time. Japan lose arguably their most dangerous attacker heading into Group F.
THE COMEBACK STORY OF THE TOURNAMENT
Neymar — Brazil ✅ (Against all odds) Nobody — and we mean nobody — expected this. Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals hadn’t featured for the national team since suffering a serious ACL injury in October 2023. Carlo Ancelotti hadn’t called him up once since taking over in May 2025. The football world had quietly started writing his international obituary.
Then, with Estêvão and Rodrygo both ruled out, and Brazil desperately short of attacking options, Ancelotti made the call — and the country erupted. When the squad announcement was read aloud in Brazil, no name received louder cheers than Neymar’s. In a detail that captured the moment perfectly, Neymar quietly changed his Instagram bio from “Santos” to “Santos | Brazil” just minutes before the official announcement. Just in case anyone needed confirmation.
This will be Neymar’s fourth World Cup. He’s played in 2014, 2018 and Qatar 2022, scoring eight times across 13 games. Ancelotti has been clear he doesn’t see him as a winger anymore — expect him through the middle, operating between Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha. Whether he’s the same Neymar is the question nobody can answer yet. But he’s back. And that alone is a story.
Five days. One trophy. And somewhere between the physio table and the pitch, the drama has already begun.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11. 48 teams. 104 games. One trophy.
