EA Sports FC 26 was one of the most highly anticipated football game releases in recent years. However, one glaring omission has left many fans puzzled: Neymar Jr. - the Brazilian superstar and former Barcelona and PSG icon - is absent from the game.
For years, Neymar was a recurring favorite in lineups, but in FC 26, his card seems to have vanished entirely. Why did EA decide to leave him out? Here, we dig into the reasons.
Why is Neymar absent from EA Sports FC 26?
The most widely accepted explanation is that EA Sports was unable to finalize a licensing deal for the Brazilian domestic league for inclusion in FC 26.
Because Neymar currently plays in Brazil, EA cannot legally include him (or any players from that league) without securing the proper rights.
In short: no league license = no Neymar (in the regular game).
There are a few complicating factors that make Brazilian licensing more challenging than in many European markets:
Fragmented rights holders - The Brazilian football market is less centralized. Image rights, team rights, and player rights may be governed by multiple entities, making negotiations more complex.
Player-specific agreements: In some cases, individual players or clubs may demand unique terms.
Given the cost and complexity, EA may have judged the licensing investment as not worth it and because of this, the inability to lock down the Brazilian league deal has effectively blocked Neymar’s inclusion.
Will Neymar return to EA FC game?
While the standard Neymar card is missing, there is speculation that he might still appear as an Icon or Hero card in FC 26 (or future installments), especially when (or if) he retires.
Unless EA secures Brazilian league rights later in the game’s lifecycle - which remains unlikely - a return of Neymar in his active “club” form is improbable.
Should Neymar transfer to a club in a league already licensed by EA mid-season, he could potentially become eligible for inclusion.
Even without the regular league rights, EA might still use Neymar’s image in special modes (Icon, Legend, or promo cards) based on separate rights agreements.
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