Anxiety surrounding the physical fitness of Brazilian forward Neymar is intensifying as the opening match of the World Cup approaches. The star attacker sustained a grade-two calf muscle injury in his left leg, leaving his participation in Brazil’s opening fixture against Morocco on 13 June highly uncertain.
The injury has already sidelined Neymar for 19 days. To assess the progression of his recovery, he is scheduled to undergo a crucial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan on Monday, 8 June, in New Jersey, United States. Due to this ongoing physical setback, Neymar has also been ruled out of Brazil’s warm-up match against Egypt.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti provided an update on the situation, stating that Neymar’s exact condition remains unclear. However, the manager expressed measured optimism, noting that the forward is currently following an individual training regime. Ancelotti indicated that if conditions remain favourable and recovery progresses as planned, Neymar could rejoin full squad training by next week.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that Neymar’s rehabilitation is being managed through a structured, step-by-step programme. According to the federation, the ultimate objective is to restore the player to full match fitness as quickly as possible during the tournament. At present, his routine is restricted to rehabilitation sessions in the gym alongside limited, light training on the pitch. Despite the coaching staff’s positive outlook, independent assessments suggest that it remains highly improbable that Neymar will features in the opening match against Morocco.
This tournament will mark Neymar’s fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, having previously represented Brazil in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions. Over his tournament career, he has accumulated a total of 8 goals.
Neymar World Cup Career Statistics
| Tournament | Host Nation(s) | Appearances | Goals Scored |
| 2014 | Brazil | 5 | 4 |
| 2018 | Russia | 5 | 2 |
| 2022 | Qatar | 3 | 2 |
| Total | — | 13 | 8 |
The CBF and the medical team continue to monitor the forward’s recovery strictly, with the upcoming MRI scan on 8 June expected to provide definitive clarity on his availability for the remainder of the tournament.