Brazil star Neymar has suffered a new injury and could miss the start of the FIFA World Cup. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 34-year-old will be out two to three weeks and will be sidelined for Brazil's friendlies leading up to their opening game against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey.
Injury Timeline
The Brazilian Football Confederation announced Neymar missed Brazil's first training session on Wednesday as he continues to manage the issue. The Santos forward has been sidelined since May 17.
According to the CBF medical department, supplementary testing sought a precise diagnosis of Neymar's injury. He was named to Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad earlier this month despite a previous calf injury that raised questions about his fitness.
World Cup Preparation Matches
Brazil is set to play Panama on Sunday at the Maracana before traveling to the United States where they will take on Egypt in Cleveland in their final match ahead of the tournament.
Career Background
A native of Sao Paulo, Neymar has not appeared for the Selecao since incurring an ACL rupture in an October 2023 match with Uruguay. The injury kept him out of Copa America 2024.
Capped for the first time in 2010 at the age of 18, Neymar has appeared at three World Cups, two Copas America and the 2012 London Summer Olympics. His 79 goals are a Brazilian record.
Ancelotti's Attack Options
Even with Neymar's absence, Ancelotti has formidable attacking power at his disposal. His other forward options include:
- Real Madrid's Vini Jr.
- Raphinha of Barcelona
- Bournemouth's 19-year-old forward Rayan
- Matheus Cunha of Manchester United
- Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli
- 19-year-old Endrick, who spent last season on loan from Real at Lyon
- Zenit's Luiz Henrique
- Igor Thiago of Brentford