Neymar injury latest: Brazil star misses practice, taken to clinic
The Brazilian forward was a surprise selection from head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Brazil star Neymar has been forced to miss the first day of team practice due to a right calf injury, sparking concern over his fitness for this summer’s World Cup.
Neymar did not take part in the team’s session at Granja Commary, Brazil on Wednesday and was taken to a private clinic in nearby Teresópolis. He sat out Santos’ last three games because of a bruised right calf but had insisted that he will be at full fitness this summer.
A statement from the CBF reads: “The Brazilian Football Confederation reports that Neymar Jr. did not participate in the Brazilian national team’s training session held this Wednesday afternoon in Teresópolis.
“The player was taken to a clinic in the city for further tests,” the statement explains. “No further information will be released until the Brazilian national team’s medical staff has completed its evaluations.”
Will Neymar play at the World Cup?
The 34-year-old was a surprise selection from head coach Carlo Ancelotti, owing to his poor injury record and lack of top level playing time since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. Wednesday’s news is a major blow for Neymar and for Ancelotti’s hopes of relying on the veteran superstar this summer.
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals for the senior national team. He is idolized across the nation and is a hero to many younger members of the current Brazil squad. However his injury problems - potentially stemming from an ACL tear while on international duty in October 2023 - threaten to disrupt his long-awaited return to the national team.
The final team rosters are not due until June 1 and Ancelotti will be able to make injury-enforced changes up until 24 hours before Brazil’s first World Cup game. Brazil will hold three more sessions at Gran Comary ahead of a pre-tournament friendly against Panama on Sunday.
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