Neymar faces race to be fit for Brazil's World Cup opener after grade two calf injury

Neymar is facing a race against time to be fit for Brazil’s World Cup opener after team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed the Santos attacker has sustained a grade two calf injury, casting doubt over his participation in the Group C match against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey.

Lasmar made the announcement at a press conference following medical tests on the 34-year-old. “Neymar underwent all the medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan revealing a grade two calf injury, not just swelling,” Lasmar said. “He is expected to be cleared in two to three weeks.” That timeline means Neymar will definitely miss Brazil’s warm-up friendlies against Panama and Egypt, and may not recover in time for the tournament’s opening fixture.

The injury is a significant setback for a player who has not represented the Selecao since 2023 after a prolonged spell on the sidelines. His inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad had been in doubt before the announcement, making the news all the more difficult to absorb. Neymar, who has earned 128 caps for Brazil, returned to Santos last year after spells at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, and had been working his way back to form ahead of what would be a fourth World Cup campaign.

Ancelotti defended his decision to select Neymar despite the fitness concerns, saying: “We spent the entire year analysing Neymar. We realised that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition.”

Neymar will not be the only absentee from Brazil’s pre-tournament friendlies. Arsenal defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli are also set to miss the Panama warm-up after the Gunners reached the Champions League final against PSG in Budapest on Saturday. Arsenal, who won their first Premier League title in 22 years last weekend, will be hoping both players come through the final unscathed before linking up with the national squad.