Lula Calls Neymar Football’s First ‘Remote Worker’ as Brazil Star Sits Out 2026 World Cup with Injury

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has become an unlikely talking point at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a quip about Neymar’s injury absence went viral on social media on June 19.

The remark came during a public appearance in which Lula was asked about Brazil’s prospects at the tournament. When a child in the crowd identified Neymar as Brazil’s best player, the president responded with a joke that drew immediate laughter. “Neymar isn’t even playing, man! I heard yesterday that he is the first player called up for home office in the world. He’s the greatest we have!” Lula said.

The clip spread rapidly across social media platforms, with the phrase “remote worker” — a reference to Neymar remaining at the squad’s training base in New Jersey rather than travelling with the team — capturing the attention of football fans worldwide.

Neymar was included in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite carrying fitness concerns, but a grade-two right calf strain sustained on May 17 during a match with Santos has prevented him from making any appearance at the tournament so far. He did not travel to Philadelphia for Friday’s fixture and has been focusing on his recovery at the team’s New Jersey training facility.

The injury is the latest in a lengthy series of physical setbacks that have defined the latter stages of Neymar’s career. The 34-year-old has struggled to maintain consistent fitness for both club and country in recent seasons, significantly limiting his availability. Despite those absences, he remains Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of the most consequential figures in the nation’s football history, having carried the weight of expectations surrounding the Seleção for more than a decade.

Reaction to Lula’s comments has been divided. A portion of supporters interpreted the remark as harmless humour from a head of state engaging with a crowd, while others viewed it as an unnecessary slight directed at a player whose injury struggles have already generated considerable public scrutiny. The sensitivity surrounding Neymar’s fitness record made the joke a flashpoint rather than a straightforward moment of levity.

The broader context adds further weight to the discussion. Neymar’s 2026 World Cup campaign — if and when he features — could represent one of his final opportunities on the sport’s biggest stage. At 34, and with a recent injury history that includes serious knee and ankle problems, his capacity to contribute meaningfully at this level remains an open question among Brazilian supporters and analysts alike.

Brazil have been competing in the tournament without their record goalscorer while managing expectations around his potential return to fitness. Whether Neymar will recover in time to feature before the Seleção’s campaign concludes remains unclear.

Lula’s viral “remote worker” description has, intentionally or otherwise, sharpened the ongoing conversation about Neymar’s place in the current Brazil setup and what his continued absence means for the team’s attacking options at a home-continent World Cup.