Brazil get Neymar injury blow after Joao Pedro World Cup snub | OneFootball

Chelsea star’s World Cup dream could be revived

Neymar’s involvement at the World Cup is in doubt after he was struck down with a calf injury just three days before Brazil’s first warm-up friendly.

Such a prognosis will likely rule him out of both Brazil’s pre-tournament warm-up friendlies against Panama on May 31, and Egypt on June 6.

It also casts doubt on his involvement in the first group stage fixture against Morocco on June 13 - just 16 days away.

Speaking from Brazil’s training camp, Lasmar said Neymar had undergone an MRI scan which “identified a grade two muscle injury.”

He continued: “Our expectation is that he will be available in two to three weeks.”

It remains to be seen whether Neymar will be involved at the World Cup at all. Reports in Brazil suggest he has been given a hard deadline to declare himself fit for the competition or withdraw from the squad, with a decision required before Brazil’s friendly meeting with Egypt.

Should he drop out, Joao Pedro could earn a surprise call-up after all.

The Chelsea striker was a shock omission from the tournament squad after he hit 20 goals and assisted nine in all competitions this season, his first in west London.

Should Ancelotti need to add another forward to his squad, then, Joao Pedro will be a difficult option to ignore, despite not being a like-for-like positional match with Neymar.

Neymar has 128 Brazil caps but has not appeared for his nation since 2023, when he played half of a 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by Uruguay.