Brazil set to keep Neymar sidelined for entire group stage to protect calf injury

Brazil are prepared to navigate their entire World Cup group stage without Neymar, with medical staff and coach Carlo Ancelotti agreeing that protecting the forward’s long-term fitness outweighs any short-term gain from rushing him back.

Neymar sustained a grade-two calf injury while playing for Santos on May 17 and has not trained with the squad since joining the camp at Granja Comary on May 27. He has yet to reintegrate with his team-mates on the grass, though a recent increase in gym workload has been viewed as a positive step in his recovery.

According to ESPN, Brazil are determined to avoid a setback that could end his tournament entirely. The plan is for the 32-year-old to begin individual work on the pitch this week, but he will only be cleared for full team sessions once the medical staff are satisfied he is pain-free. His lack of competitive match sharpness — he has not played in over a month — is also a significant factor in the cautious approach.

Internally, the Selecão are now targeting the knockout stages as a realistic return date for their talisman. That timeline effectively rules him out of the opener against Haiti in Philadelphia and leaves him as a major doubt for the final group match against Scotland in Miami on June 24.

Ancelotti has been clear that he will not compromise Neymar’s health to accelerate his return. The Italian explained his decision to retain the injured forward in the squad: “Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. When we called up Neymar, we did it not just because of his technical quality, which is undeniable. But also because of his experience, the example he could represent for the younger players on the team.”

The medical team have not ruled out further imaging tests in the coming days to assess whether treatment has successfully healed the calf muscle. Those results will determine whether Neymar can accelerate his transition to outdoor work or must continue his rehabilitation in the gym.

Brazil’s conservative strategy is contingent on results. Should the Selecão struggle in the group stage, the calculus around Neymar’s return could shift considerably.