Neymar Faces Race To Be Fit For World Cup Opener

Brazil’s talismanic forward Neymar faces a race against time to be fit for the Selecao’s World Cup curtain-raiser after being sidelined with a calf injury.

The 32-year-old superstar has been diagnosed with a grade two muscle tear, ruling him out of action for an estimated two to three weeks.

The setback means he will definitely miss Brazil’s warm-up matches against Panama and Egypt, but more concerningly, his availability for the Group C opener against Morocco on 13 June remains in serious doubt.

Team physician Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar delivered the news during a tense press conference in Rio de Janeiro.

“The MRI confirmed a partial rupture of muscle fibers in the right calf. This is not a simple inflammation. We’re looking at a recovery window of 14 to 21 days,” he stated.

Neymar, who has netted 79 goals in 128 caps for his country, arrived at the training camp on Tuesday but complained of swelling in his right leg the following morning. He was immediately sent for scans, which revealed the extent of the damage.

The diagnosis contradicts an earlier assessment from Santos’ medical staff. Club doctor Rodrigo Zogaib had insisted the issue was merely fluid buildup and that Neymar would be fully capable of training upon joining the national team.

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti now faces a nervous wait. The Italian manager has already lost Arsenal defender Gabriel and forward Gabriel Martinelli for the Panama friendly due to their involvement in the Champions League final against Paris St-Germain on 30 May. Captain Marquinhos is also absent for the same reason.

Neymar has not represented Brazil since 2023, with injuries repeatedly derailing his international career. Nevertheless, Ancelotti selected him ahead of Chelsea’s João Pedro and Tottenham’s Richarlison for the World Cup squad.

If he recovers in time, the tournament would mark Neymar’s fourth World Cup appearance, following campaigns in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Brazilian fans famously watched in anguish as he was stretchered off in tears during the 2014 quarter-final against Colombia after suffering a fractured vertebra.

When Ancelotti announced his 26-man squad at a glitzy ceremony last week, the loudest cheer from the assembled crowd came for Neymar’s name.

The 66-year-old coach later explained: “We monitored him for an entire year. In recent months, he found consistency and looked physically sharp. This injury is a cruel blow.”