Brazil

SAO PAULO: Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s upcoming friendly matches and is expected to miss the World Cup opener after scans confirmed a grade-two calf injury, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Thursday.

CBF team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said the 34-year-old forward would require two to three weeks of recovery following medical assessments at the national team camp.

“Neymar reported for duty yesterday here at Granja Comary, underwent all the medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan revealing a grade-two calf injury,” Lasmar said. “He is expected to be cleared in two to three weeks.”

The doctor did not confirm whether Neymar could be dropped from the squad.

Neymar joined the national squad on Tuesday but missed Wednesday’s training session after complaining of swelling in his right calf. He was later sent for imaging tests at a private clinic in Teresópolis.

Medical scans confirmed a Grade 2 calf strain, which involves a partial tear of muscle fibres and requires rest and rehabilitation, differing from earlier assessments by his club Santos, which had described the issue as simple swelling.

As a result, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer will miss Sunday’s friendly against Panama at the Maracanã and the following match against Egypt in Cleveland. He is also unlikely to feature in Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey.

Brazil, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, are placed in Group C alongside Haiti and Scotland.

Ancelotti has already been dealing with several absences, including defenders Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos and forward Gabriel Martinelli, who were unavailable due to Champions League commitments.

Neymar’s recall last week had generated excitement after he had been left out of Ancelotti’s plans during his first year in charge. The forward has scored 79 goals in 128 international appearances but has struggled with recurring injuries in recent years.

Brazil will now proceed with their preparations without their star forward.