Brazil fans have received another setback, with star forward Neymar unlikely to feature in any of the remaining group stage matches after failing to recover in time from injury. Reports now suggest there is little chance of him returning before the knockout phase.
The 34-year-old forward has still not fully returned to training ahead of Brazil’s second Group C match against Haiti. According to ESPN, Neymar is undergoing another round of medical tests just a week after his previous evaluation. He suffered a calf injury while playing for Santos on May 17.
The Grade 2 calf strain, which involves partial muscle damage, led to his inclusion in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite ongoing fitness concerns. However, he has yet to take part in full team training since arriving and was recently seen continuing rehabilitation work at the New York Red Bulls training facility.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has not officially released the latest medical report. However, Brazilian media reports suggest the medical staff are still hoping to have Neymar fully fit before the knockout stage.
As a result, Brazil will be without him for their upcoming Group C fixtures against Haiti and Scotland. The five-time world champions began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco.
Brazil will face Haiti on Saturday at 6:30 a.m., followed by their final group match against Scotland on June 25. Neymar was also not seen in official kit during the opening match, despite being named in the squad.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar is working hard to return as soon as possible.
“He is working hard to come back as quickly as possible. We hope he will recover soon and join the squad next week,” Ancelotti said.
He added: “When we selected him, we considered his incredible technical ability. But beyond his performance on the pitch, his experience and leadership are very important for our young players.”
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