Brazil’s president held nothing back. 😂 At an official event in Belo Horizonte, Lula da Silva responded to a child who expressed admiration for Neymar with a phrase that is already history: “He is the first work-from-home call-up in the world.” And he admitted without shame that he got it from a meme that reached him on the internet. 🔥
The joke hurts because it’s true. Neymar, 34 years old and Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals, has played ZERO minutes at the 2026 World Cup. He did not play in the draw against Morocco, did not travel to Philadelphia for the match against Haiti, and remains recovering from a grade II calf muscle injury in a room in New Jersey. The CBF confirmed that he is staying there “to optimize the final phase of his recovery”. 📲
Carlo Ancelotti says he will be ready for the third match against Scotland. But in the meantime, the tournament’s most famous star is watching it on television… just like all of us. 🤣⚽
-LULA: “Who is Brazil’s best player?”
— Sudanalytics (@sudanalytics_) June 19, 2026
-KID: "Neymar!"
-LULA: “Neymar isn’t even playing! I read that he is the first player called up to a World Cup who works remotely”.
Yes, the PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL. 😅🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/LnljAJCGWh