The invention discloses near-infrared fluorescent powder. A chemical general formula of the near-infrared fluorescent powder is Mg(3-x)Ga2CrxGeO8, wherein x is greater than 0 and is smaller than or equal to 0.1. The invention also discloses a preparation method of the near-infrared fluorescent powder. The preparation method comprises the following steps: weighing oxide or carbonate containing elements of Mg, Ga, Cr and Ge according to molar proportions of all elements in the chemical general formula Mg(3-x)Ga2CrxGeO8 of the near-infrared fluorescent powder, mixing, and grinding, thus obtaininga mixture; heating the mixture to 1200 to 1300 DEG C, and roasting for 3 to 4 hours, thus obtaining a sintered body; cooling the sintered body to room temperature, and fully grinding, thus obtainingthe near-infrared fluorescent powder. Meanwhile, the invention discloses application of the near-infrared fluorescent powder. The near-infrared fluorescent powder provided by the invention has longerexcitation wavelength and cannot be easily absorbed by a living body, an emission spectrum is in wide spectrum emission, the wavelength covers 700 to 1200nm which can cover one part of a first windowand a second window of a body biological window, the luminous strength is high, the stability is high, the preparation technology of the near-infrared fluorescent powder is simple, operation and control are easy, the safety is high, the preparation time is short, and the near-infrared fluorescent powder is convenient for large-scale production as well as popularization and application.