Santos striker Neymar sustained a calf injury during a loss to Coritiba on May 17 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Sebastiao Moreira/EPA
Brazilian striker Neymar is out two to three weeks due to a calif injury, Brazil national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters Thursday.
Lasmar said Neymar sustained a grade 2 muscle injury in his right leg. His projected timeline for return will rule him out of upcoming friendlies and puts his status in doubts for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco.
“He underwent all of the medical exams, the supplementary tests, and we finished with an MRI that identified a grade 2 muscle injury in his calf,” Lasmar said.
Neymar was among the 26 men selected for Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup roster on May 18. The oft-injured 34-year-old sustained his latest ailment during Santos’ 3-0 loss to Coritiba on May 17.
Neymar’s 79 goals are the most in the history of the Brazilian men’s national team. His 128 appearances rank No. 2 all time, trailing only Cafu’s 142.
Neymar last played for Brazil in 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. He tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee during that match.
Vincius Jr., Raphinha, Rayan, Matheus Cunha, Luiz Henrique, Igor Thiago, Endrick and Gabriel Martinelli were the other forwards Ancelotti selected for Brazil’s World Cup roster.
The Brazilians reported Wednesday for training at Granja Comary in Teresopolis, Brazil.
Brazil, the No. 6 team in the FIFA world rankings, is a Top 5 betting favorite to win the World Cup. The Brazilians will host No. 33 Panama in a friendly Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. They will meet No. 29 Egypt in another friendly June 6 in Cleveland.
The Brazilians will face No. 8 Morocco in their first Group C match at the World Cup on June 13 in East Rutherford, N.J.
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Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the FIFA World Cup trophy after Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Final win — its third tournament trophy — at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar, on December 18, 2022. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
