Lula Mocks Neymar's Absence with 'Work from Home' Quip
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sparked laughter on Friday when he joked about Neymar's injury-related absence from the national team's first two World Cup matches, calling the star forward the world's first 'work-from-home' national team player. The comment came during a public event in Belo Horizonte, where Lula was announcing new investments in Brazil's public healthcare system.
According to Reuters, a young audience member asked Lula who he thought was the best player on the national team. When the child answered with Neymar's name, the president indulged in playful banter. "Neymar isn't even playing, man. Neymar is the world's first 'work-from-home' national team player. A work-from-home player," Lula said, laughing.
He added, "I saw that (joke) on the internet yesterday. Any day now, they'll have to put together a national team using artificial intelligence -- eleven Peles."
Neymar's Injury and Recovery Progress
Neymar, 34, has been sidelined with a calf injury that kept him out of Brazil's opening two Group C matches: a 1-1 draw against Morocco and a 3-0 victory over Haiti. Instead of traveling with the squad to Philadelphia for the Haiti match, Neymar remained at Brazil's training base in New Jersey, where he followed an individual rehabilitation program. He resumed on-field work on Saturday, participating in physical and ball drills alongside defender Alex Sandro, who has also been recovering from injury.
Ancelotti to Decide on Neymar's Return Against Scotland
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the Haiti win that Neymar would be reintegrated into the squad ahead of Wednesday's match against Scotland. A final decision on his availability is expected after training sessions on Monday and Tuesday. Brazil currently sits well placed in Group C with four points from two matches, and Neymar's return would be a major boost as the team seeks to secure qualification for the knockout stages.
The president's lighthearted remarks highlight the high expectations surrounding Neymar, who remains one of Brazil's most iconic players despite his injury setbacks. The 'work from home' joke quickly circulated on social media, drawing mixed reactions from fans and pundits.
