Brazil’s World Cup preparations have suffered a major setback after Neymar was ruled out for up to three weeks with a calf injury, putting his involvement in the Selecao’s opening match of the tournament in serious doubt.
The 34-year-old forward is expected to miss Brazil’s upcoming warm-up fixtures against Panama and Egypt after medical scans revealed a grade-two calf strain.
Team doctors have indicated that Neymar will require a period of rehabilitation before returning to full training.
Will Neymar Play in Brazil’s World Cup Opening Match?
With Brazil set to kick off their World Cup campaign against Morocco on 13 June, manager Carlo Ancelotti faces an anxious wait over the fitness of his most experienced attacking star. Neymar’s recovery timeline leaves his availability for that opening fixture hanging in the balance.
The injury comes as a surprise given earlier reports from Neymar’s club side, which suggested the issue was only minor swelling. However, further examinations conducted by Brazil’s medical staff identified a more significant muscle injury.
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Neymar has endured a frustrating run of fitness problems in recent years and has not represented Brazil since suffering a serious knee injury in 2023.
Despite concerns about his condition, Ancelotti included the veteran forward in his World Cup squad, preferring him to several younger attacking options, including Chelsea’s Joao Pedro.
Should Neymar miss the Morocco clash, Brazil will likely rely more heavily on the pace and creativity of stars such as Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo as they look to make a strong start in Group C.
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How important is Neymar to Brazil?
Despite entering the latter stages of his career, Neymar remains one of the most influential players in the Brazil setup. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer and brings a wealth of experience to a squad packed with emerging talent.
His ability to create chances, unlock defences and deliver in high-pressure moments has made him a key figure for the national team over the past decade.
While Brazil possess plenty of attacking depth, replacing Neymar’s leadership and experience, not to mention his quality, would be a significant challenge.
For Ancelotti, having Neymar available for the latter stages of the tournament could prove just as important as having him fit for the opening group games.
What Neymar’s injury could mean for Brazil’s World Cup hopes
Brazil are among the favourites to lift the World Cup, but injuries to key players can always alter the landscape of a major tournament.
If Neymar is unable to feature in the group stage, greater responsibility will fall on players such as Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Raphinha to provide the attacking spark.
Fortunately for Brazil, they possess one of the deepest squads in international football and remain capable of progressing without their star man.
However, the prospect of entering the knockout rounds without Neymar would be a far greater concern.
As Brazil chase a record-extending sixth World Cup title, supporters will be hoping the forward can recover in time to play a major role in their campaign.
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