Brazilian football star Neymar missed Brazil’s first training session ahead of the FIFA World Cup after undergoing medical examinations on a bruised right calf, raising fresh concerns over his fitness for the tournament.
According to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Neymar did not participate in the squad’s training session in Teresópolis and was instead taken to a local clinic for further imaging tests and medical evaluation.
The 34-year-old forward has been struggling with fitness issues since sustaining the calf injury during Santos FC’s recent domestic fixture earlier this month. While Neymar had initially attempted to downplay concerns over the injury, his absence from Brazil’s opening World Cup camp session has intensified speculation surrounding his availability for the tournament.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly monitoring the situation closely, with the medical staff expected to make a final assessment after the test results are reviewed. Brazil are scheduled to play warm-up matches against Panama and Egypt before beginning their FIFA World Cup campaign.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 international goals, has endured a difficult period with recurring injuries over the last few seasons. He had only recently returned to the national team setup after a long recovery from an ACL injury suffered in 2023.
The uncertainty surrounding Neymar’s condition has become one of the biggest talking points in Brazil’s World Cup preparations, with fans and analysts worried about whether the veteran playmaker will be fully fit for what could potentially be his final FIFA World Cup appearance.
Discussion about this post