Brazilian forward Neymar may not participate in the country's upcoming friendly matches due to a calf injury. The 34-year-old player could also potentially miss Brazil’s World Cup opener.
Neymar has been ruled out for "two to three weeks" following a calf injury, which means he will not play in the home friendly against Panama on Sunday and also against Egypt in a friendly match scheduled for Saturday, 6 June in Cleveland, Ohio.
The five-time winners of the World Cup, Brazil is set to begin their Group C campaign on 13 June against Morocco in New Jersey. Subsequent matches are scheduled with Haiti on 19 June in Philadelphia and Scotland on 24 June in Miami.
Medical diagnosis of Neymar’s condition
Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed details about Neymar's injury at a news conference. He stated that medical tests concluded with an MRI scan revealing a grade two calf injury rather than just swelling as initially thought. This type of moderate injury involves partial tearing of muscle fibres and requires rest and rehabilitation over two to three weeks.
This diagnosis contradicts earlier statements by Santos club doctor Rodrigo Zogaib who had suggested that the problem was merely swelling and that Neymar would be fit enough to start training soon. The absence of key players like Arsenal defender Gabriel and forward Gabriel Martinelli from the Panama game due to their involvement in the Champions League final adds further challenges for Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti. Defender Marquinhos, who captains both Brazil and PSG, is also unavailable for similar reasons.
Despite his struggles with injuries since 2023, Neymar was selected ahead of Chelsea striker Joao Pedro and Tottenham forward Richarlison for this year’s World Cup squad. If he recovers timely from his current setback, this could be Neymar's fourth World Cup appearance, having previously represented Brazil in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Neymar's selection for the World Cup squad was met with cheers from fans at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. Ancelotti revealed that they had spent the entire year analysing Neymar's condition and were confident about his physical fitness. The Brazilian forward has scored an impressive 79 goals in his 128 international appearances. His potential absence from the upcoming matches is undoubtedly a significant blow to Brazil’s campaign, but fans remain hopeful for his speedy recovery and return to form.
