- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,152,173
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
Santos' Neymar was a surprise call-up for Brazil's FIFA World Cup roster -Credit:Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images
Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer, Neymar, was a somewhat surprising inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s final 26-man roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Having not played since Ancelotti took charge, with his most recent international outing being back in 2023, the 34-year-old Santos attacker should provide Brazil with some potentially invaluable experience and flair going forward - that is, assuming he makes it to the pitch.
With his last few years having been blighted by injuries, Neymar has suffered yet another setback, with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirming that what Santos’ doctor had described as an edema in his calf is actually more serious.
- Zohran Mamdani takes Philadelphia swipe while announcing $50 World Cup tickets
- Mauricio Pochettino goes on rant defending decision to cut USMNT players via email
You must be registered for see images attach
Neymar has been diagnosed with 'a grade two injury to his calf' -Credit:MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images
“Neymar arrived here at Granja Comary yesterday, underwent all the medical exams, which ended with an MRI that revealed a grade two injury to his calf, not just edema. The expectation is that he will be cleared in two to three weeks,” the CBF doctor said, as per Torcedores.
This essentially rules Neymar out of both of Brazil’s World Cup warm-up friendlies, with the first being at Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro against Panama on May 31, followed by a trip to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, to take on Egypt on June 6.
Should his recovery go smoothly, he may be back in time for their Group C opener on June 13 against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey; otherwise, he might need to wait six days to make his 2026 World Cup bow at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, against Haiti.
Brazil’s final group stage game is scheduled for June 24, when they head to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, to take on Scotland.
To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE
While Ancelotti’s final roster must be submitted by June 1, teams are permitted to make alterations up until a day before their first game, assuming there is adequate proof of a player's injury or a serious illness. As such, Ancelotti and Co. have until June 12 to keep a very close eye on Neymar’s recovery and decide if this fairytale comeback may need to come to a premature end.
It seems safe to say, however, that his teammates would much rather see him stick around for the duration of the tournament, with fellow veteran Casemiro, who recently left Manchester United after four seasons, saying of Neymar, via The Athletic, “Neymar is an experienced player. He’s heading to his fourth World Cup. He has already been through so many things, and he has a lot to offer. We know that the experience he has is important.”
Should Neymar ultimately be dropped or forced to withdraw, one potential candidate to take his spot could be Chelsea’s João Pedro, who was arguably the most surprising omission from Ancelotti’s squad. This would not be a like-for-like swap, however, with the Blue star typically deployed as more of an out-and-out center forward than his compatriot.
Continue reading...
