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Report: Neymar injury puts his status in doubt for Brazil at World Cup

Brazil star Neymar is in doubt to start the World Cup with a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for two to three weeks, the national team’s doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said on Thursday.

Here’s what you need to know.

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Neymar

The 34-year-old Santos forward will miss Brazil’s two pre-World Cup friendlies against Panama on May 31 and Egypt on June 6.

Although not officially ruled out of the World Cup, Neymar’s status is in doubt for Brazil’s opening match against Morocco on June 13.

“An MRI scan identified a grade two muscle injury, our expectation is that he will be available in two to three week,” Lasmaer said at Brazils training centre outside of Rio de Janeiro.

Neymar joined his Brazil teammates at the training centre on Wednesday, but he did not participate in the first practice. This comes after he missed Santos’ last few matches due to what his club coach called a “slight injury”.

Neymar was a surprise inclusion in Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man World Cup squad as it is his first international duty in almost three years, with injuries and poor performance keeping him off the national team. Ancelotti cited concerns over Neymar’s fitness as the reason why he was left off Brazil’s squad for March friendlies against France and Croatia.

Despite Ancelotti’s reservations, Neymar remains one of the biggest stars in Brazil’s national team history and this will be his fourth World Cup. Neymar is the all-time leading goalscorer for the national team, finding the back of the net 79 imes in 128 appearances for the Selecao.

His last appearance for Brazil came in a 2023 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

Brazil World Cup

Five-time champions Brazil has big expectations for this World Cup after exiting on penalties against Croatia in the quarterfinals in 2022. The Selecao are once again one of the tournament favourites at +800 to win and +400 to reach the finals.