Neymar mocked by Brazil president over 'work from home' quip

Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva poked fun at Neymar's injury-plagued start to the 2026 World Cup, jokingly labelling the forward the first player in history to "work from home". The Santos star has been a spectator for the early stages of the tournament in North America while recovering from a persistent calf problem.

During a speech in Belo Horizonte, Lula engaged in a light-hearted exchange with a young fan who suggested Neymar was the best player in the current Selecao setup, and pointed out the 34-year-old’s absence from the pitch. Referencing a viral joke he had seen on social media, the president told the crowd: "I saw something yesterday, that Neymar is the first home office call-up in the world.

Home office player. I saw that on the internet yesterday.

Brazil, Belo Horizonte

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