Neymar out for 2-3 weeks with calf injury, expected to miss Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13.
BERLIN: Forward Neymar won’t be available for Brazil’s World Cup tune-up matches and is expected to miss the tournament’s opener against Morocco, the national team doctor told journalists on Thursday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
“Neymar arrived yesterday at the Granja Comary (Brazil’s headquarters near Rio de Janeiro), did all medical tests, and was diagnosed with a grade two calf injury. The expectation is that he will be sidelined from two to three weeks,” doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said.
Brazil have friendly matches against Panama on Sunday and Egypt on June 6.
Their first World Cup game against Morocco is on June 13.
Neymar has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons and there had been doubts whether he would be included in the squad by coach Carlo Ancelotti after he wasn’t nominated for friendly matches earlier this year.
Neymar’s last appearance for the record world champions was in October 2023.
Back then, the injury-prone star suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his knee during a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in World Cup qualifying.
Since then, Neymar – who has 128 caps – has not rediscovered his form.
Saudi club Al-Hilal allowed him to leave on a free transfer to boyhood club Santos in January 2025.
