Neymar is facing a race against time to be fit for Brazil’s opening match of the World Cup after suffering a calf injury, the national team doctor confirmed on Thursday.
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Team physician Rodrigo Lasmar said medical examinations revealed a grade-two muscle injury that will require between two and three weeks of treatment.
The injury means Neymar will miss Brazil’s pre-World Cup friendly matches against Panama and Egypt, while his availability for the tournament opener against Morocco on June 13 remains uncertain.
Neymar joined Brazil’s training camp near Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday but did not participate in the team’s opening training session.
The 34-year-old forward has recently missed several matches for Santos FC due to what club coach Cuca had earlier described as a minor injury.
His inclusion in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man World Cup squad surprised many observers, as Neymar had not featured for the national side for nearly three years because of recurring injuries and inconsistent form.
Despite fitness concerns, Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances for the national team. The upcoming tournament is expected to be his fourth World Cup appearance.
His last match for Brazil came in 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
