Neymar suffers injury setback: When will Brazil star return?

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti may be without Neymar for the entirety of the World Cup group stage as the veteran star continues his return from injury.

Neymar is suffering with a right calf injury and has not yet been able to take part in Brazil training sessions. He missed the group stage opener against Morocco and has undergone medical examinations with the Brazil medical team.

ESPN reports that Brazil now expect Neymar to miss the remaining group stage games, against Haiti (June 19) and Scotland (June 24). They will hope to have him back in contention to feature for the knockout rounds but his recent injury record suggests that he is unlikely to be back to full fitness.

Neymar has struggled with repeated injuries since tearing his ACL in October 2023 while on international duty. He was a surprise call-up for Brazil’s World Cup squad after picking up a calf injury on May 17. Ancelotti has said that he selected Neymar for the World Cup roster because of “his technical abilities” and “his experience and the example he sets for the young players.”

It remains to be seen whether we will see Neymar on the field at the 2026 World Cup. Brazil also have the likes of Raphinha, Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Igor Thiago, Matheus Cunha and Gabriel Martinelli in the forward positions, all of whom have much more impressive recent records than Neymar.

However Neymar is one of the most idolized players in the history of the Brazilian national team, with a team record 79 international goals in his 128 appearances. Ancelotti surprised some onlookers by selecting the 34-year-old for the World Cup. Now, he faces the possibility of trying to reintroduce Neymar back into the team in a must-win knockout tie.

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