Neymar suffers major World Cup setback
Neymar Jr. returned to the Brazilian national team after 3 years ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The Brazilian faced several setbacks, including injury issues that had a strong emotional impact on the player, but he kept himself ready for the final World Cup in his career, which begins in two weeks.
Neymar missed the last Serie A match against Gremio due to a calf injury. Doctors, including the head of medical staff in Santos, expressed their optimism in Neymar's case, as they hoped he would be fit within one week, but the latest update from the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) states that the player will be out for 2-3 weeks.
Grade two injury confirmed for Neymar
Initial reports suggested that the calf injury of the Brazilian was a minor swelling, but a recent detailed medical examination conducted in Granja Comary reveals that Neymar has a grade two calf injury, which will keep him out for 2-3 weeks, confirmed by Brazil’s national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.
Neymar’s recovery race begins
Brazil’s World Cup camp has already started in Granja Comary, and the team will play Egypt and Panama in friendly matches prior to the World Cup.
As of now, Neymar is expected to miss Brazil's two opening matches in the World Cup, which will be played on June 14 at 3:30 AM IST (10:00 PM UTC) against Morocco and on June 20 at 6:00 AM IST (12:30 AM UTC) against Haiti in Group C.
João Pedro omission sparks debate in Brazil
Head coach Carlo ancelotti received mixed opinions from fans regarding the world cup call for neymar ,Many questioned the decision after João Pedro, who scored 15 Premier League goals this season, was left out despite Neymar still struggling for full fitness
The pace of Neymar's recovery will be crucial for the Brazilian national team because the experienced player is still capable of pulling world-class performances despite the injury issues.