Neymar is missing from EA Sports FC 26. The Brazilian start was not featured in one of the most highly anticipated football game releases in recent year.
Undoubtedly one of the best players in football history, Neymar has become a fan favorite on and off the pitch. the Brazilian superstar and former Barcelona and PSG icon has make an appearance on all top football and sport games.
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.
Neymar of Santos celebrates after scoring the third goal of his team during a Brasileirao 2025 match between Santos and Juventude. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
Why is Neymar absent from EA Sports FC 26?
Neymar’s absence from EA Sports FC 26 is due to the fact 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.
