Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s upcoming friendlies and is set to miss their World Cup opener after scans revealed a grade-two calf injury, the Brazilian Football Confederation said Thursday.
Confederation doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed the 34-year-old forward faces two to three more weeks on the sidelines. He did not say whether Neymar could be dropped from the squad.
Neymar had joined the team on Tuesday but missed Wednesday’s first training session and was sent to a private clinic for imaging tests after complaints of swelling in his right calf.
According to Lasmar, the MRI showed not swelling, as previously reported, but a Grade 2 calf strain – a moderate injury involving a partial tear of the muscle fibers that requires rest and rehabilitation.
Brazil's all-time leading scorer will now miss Sunday's friendly against Panama at the Maracana and the subsequent match against Egypt in Cleveland. He is also all but ruled out of Brazil's World Cup opener against African champions Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey.
REUTERS
