Vanderson is set to undergo surgery on his left thigh following a muscle injury, casting serious doubt over his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to reports from Globo Esporte and information shared by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano on his official X handle, the AS Monaco right-back will require a recovery period of at least three months after the procedure.
Vanderson’s expected to miss the World Cup 2026, barring any surprise in recovery — reports @geglobo. AS Monaco right back underwent surgery on Monday and he’s expected to be out with injury for around 3 months, as @cahemota reports.
The injury represents a major setback for the 24-year-old Brazilian, who had been hoping to secure a place in the squad of the Brazil national football team for the upcoming tournament.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti is scheduled to announce his final World Cup squad on May 19. With the global tournament set to begin on June 11 and run until July 19, Vanderson now faces an extremely tight timeline to regain full fitness in time for selection.
Meanwhile, Softfootball earlier reported another major talking point in Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup involves Neymar, who has been included in the preliminary squad list ahead of the team’s final friendly matches before the tournament. The forward’s final inclusion will be determined in the coming days as Ancelotti closely monitors his fitness.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Vanderson is reportedly determined to accelerate his rehabilitation in the hope of keeping his World Cup dream alive. However, medical expectations suggest that participating in the tournament will be very difficult.
This is not the first time injuries have affected Vanderson’s international career. The defender has already been forced to withdraw from Ancelotti’s squads on two previous occasions, including missing the November 2025 international break. Earlier in Ancelotti’s tenure, he had started the Italian manager’s first two matches in charge of Brazil.
During the current season, Vanderson has made 23 appearances for Monaco, contributing two assists while continuing to establish himself as one of the club’s key defensive players.
In separate transfer developments, Napoli are reportedly pleased with the performances of Brazilian winger Alisson Santos and are considering activating the €15 million purchase option included in his loan deal from Sporting CP. The final decision on the permanent move is expected later in the summer transfer window.
